New Study: Men in eastern Europe seek support – but are limited by masculinity norms

The report was produced within the Redefine programme together with our local partner organizations and examines how men in Eastern Europe and the South Caucasus understand, access, and seek psychosocial support. To celebrate Men's Health Month, we are now publishing a new report on men's support seeking! 

Many men experience stress, mental health issues, and challenges in their relationships – yet still find it difficult to seek support. The study sheds light on the barriers, driving forces, and pathways that influence men's help-seeking, with the aim of contributing to more effective and accessible support interventions. 

At the same time, the study shows that men do in fact seek support – but often through informal and less visible channels. Trusting relationships, anonymous digital platforms, and indirect forms of support are often preferred over formal services and organisations. Concerns about stigmatisation, lack of anonymity, and fear of being judged play a decisive role in these choices. Many men are more inclined to accept support when it is perceived as practical, solution-oriented, and respectful of their need for autonomy. 

The report also shows that accessibility and design are crucial. Low-threshold, no-demand interventions such as digital services and local peer support groups with other men can noticeably increase participation. Meeting in groups, when it takes place in safe and non-judgmental environments, can help men open up, reflect on their experiences, and gradually develop their awareness of emotions and how these affect them. 

Younger men generally show greater openness to talking about mental health and seeking support, but are still influenced by strong social norms. Across all age groups, trust is a decisive factor: men seek support to a greater extent when they feel understood and not judged, and when interventions are perceived as relevant and tailored to their individual life circumstances. 

In summary, the study shows that men's help-seeking is low not due to a lack of need, but because men are constrained by social norms, perceived risks, and how support is designed. To increase the uptake and effectiveness of psychosocial support, interventions need to be adapted to men's realities – by reducing stigmatisation, broadening access, and creating safe entry points that enable gradually increasing engagement. 

The findings underscore the importance of integrating psychosocial support into broader work on gender equality and violence prevention. Supporting men in seeking help contributes not only to increased individual well-being, but also to more equal relationships, and a more inclusive society free from violence. 

Redefine is a regional program with partner organizations in Georgia, Moldova, Armenia, and Belarus (in exile). The five-year program, launched in 2023, is run and coordinated by the international team at MÄN and funded by The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency. With our support at MÄN, the partner organizations carry out norm-shifting work aimed at engaging men and boys to promote gender equality and combat violence in the region. 

MÄN is a Swedish civil society organisation established in 1993 as a platform for men to take action against men’s violence towards women. MÄN work to engage men and boys to promote gender equality and challenge destructive masculinity norms, with the purpose of ending men’s violence against women and children. Read more at www.män.se