Men are more likely to think there鈥檚 a stigma attached to therapy compared to women 鈥� but have an equally positive experience of therapy when they try it out, according to our survey.听听

Our Public Perceptions Survey听found that nearly half (47%) of men think there鈥檚 a stigma about having counselling or psychotherapy, compared to 38% of women.听

While more than four in 10 women (41%) have had therapy at some point in their life, fewer than three out of 10 men (29%) have sought the help of a therapist.听

But men are more likely to go for therapy now than they were 15 years ago. Our research in 2010 found only 18% of men had been for therapy.听听听

When we look at the data from our 2025 survey of men and women who鈥檝e had counselling and psychotherapy, their experiences of therapy are very similar 鈥� with the same percentages recording therapy as helpful.听

Uk survey shows mental health gender 鈥榞ulf鈥櫶�

According to our survey of 5,000 members of the public carried out by YouGov earlier this year, there鈥檚 still a gulf in men and women鈥檚 attitudes towards mental health and therapy.听

  • Nearly half (47%) of men think there鈥檚 a stigma about having counselling or psychotherapy, compared to 38% of women.听
  • A third of men (34%) think therapy is self-indulgent - unless it鈥檚 for a serious problem, compared to only 17% of women.听听
  • Less than half of men (49%) are comfortable speaking to their friends about their mental health, compared to six in 10 (60%) of women.听听

Of people who鈥檝e had counselling and psychotherapy:听

  • 76% of men would recommend therapy to someone who鈥檇 had emotional difficulties or a mental health problem, compared to 75% of women.听
  • Both 73% of men and women thought that therapy was helpful听
  • 73% of men and 72% of women said it was comfortable听
  • 63% of men said it was affordable, compared to 57% of women听
  • 88% of men said their therapy was handled professionally, compared to 86% of women听

Therapist Ayo Adesioye said: 鈥淭hese findings highlight that men, due to the restrictive societal norms, continue to delay seeking support whether that鈥檚 sharing their challenges with a friend or accessing therapy.鈥澨�

鈥淢any men still struggle with displaying vulnerability and admitting, in a timely fashion, that they need help.听 If there was less stigma, I believe, we鈥檇 see similar scores on first time therapy topics,鈥� she adds.听

Therapy is helpful听

鈥淚t's not that men don't increasingly appreciate the importance of mental health and therapy - they do,鈥� explains . 鈥淚t's more that they don't necessarily see therapy as being for them, especially if they don't have an obvious mental illness.鈥�听

鈥�淭he idea of talking to someone about how they feel can feel naval-gazing and a bit pointless. My role is often to prove early in the work that therapy can be helpful - in their relationships, in their communication, in their work. That doesn't have to involve opening-up too much or being too vulnerable,鈥� he adds.听听

Psychotherapist and 网爆门 member Matt Wotton said that it鈥檚 important for men to understand how talking to a therapist is different to talking to friends.听

鈥淢any men have been raised to be self-reliant: stand on your own two feet, fix it yourself, don鈥檛 make a fuss,鈥� explains .听鈥淚t鈥檚 admirable. But taken too far, it can backfire.听听

鈥淐ampaigns often urge men to talk to their mates. That鈥檚 fine, but it鈥檚 rarely enough. Most men don鈥檛 want to be a burden, and they know their mates - however well-meaning - probably won鈥檛 know how to respond. That doesn鈥檛 make men fragile. It makes them realistic.鈥澨�

鈥淎 therapist will listen without flinching or interrupting. They鈥檙e trained to hear what鈥檚 going on and get beneath the surface. That鈥檚 not something you get over a pint, a well-meaning nod and a change of subject,鈥� he adds.听听