Experiences of families who help young rural men with emergent mental health problems in a rural community in New South Wales, Australia

A qualitative study was conducted in rural New South Wales, Australia, to understand the barriers to helpseeking among young rural men with emergent mental health problems. Participants who had real life experiences of these problems within their families were interviewed. Themes emerged from the data which explained some barriers to early intervention. Despite these barriers, families had developed skills in helping and in providing early mental health help to their sons. The findings of this study showed that a substantial burden on the emotional and social integrity of the family, combined with diminished psychological well-being, caused some parents to question how long they could cope before they reached 'the end of their strings'.