Development and Psychometric Validation of a Survey Assessing Barriers to Mental Health Help-Seeking Among Men: A Cross-Sectional Study

Aims: Men’s mental health and barriers to help-seeking remain under-explored, despite known links between high male suicide rates and low mental health service use. This study aimed to develop and validate a survey instrument assessing such barriers, with a focus on social determinants of health. Methods: A survey was created using literature review and expert input, including multiple-choice, Likert-scale, and select-all-that-apply items. Participants were English-speaking adults aged 18+ assigned male at birth. After pilot testing with 30 participants, the final version was distributed online via Qualtrics using social media (N = 107). Data was analyzed in SPSS and R. Psychometric validation included content review, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha, McDonald’s omega). Results: The final instrument showed strong psychometric properties. EFA and CFA supported a five-factor structure: perception, awareness, comfort, experience, and barriers. Internal consistency was acceptable. Correlations were observed between social determinants—such as income, education, and social support—and reluctance to seek help. Conclusions: The validated instrument offers a reliable tool for measuring barriers to mental health help-seeking in men. It may inform public health efforts aimed at reducing stigma and expanding access to services. Further research should assess its applicability in broader populations. Trial registration: Not applicable.