Journal article

Boys Do Cry: a randomised controlled trial testing the effects of a music video promoting help-seeking for mental health difficulties in Australian men

A Nicholas, SS Requena, S Rice, MJ Spittal, A MacKinnon, Z Seidler, M Ftanou, J Fletcher, L Le, C Mihalopoulos, J Pirkis

BMC Public Health | BMC | Published : 2025

Abstract

Background: In Australia and internationally, it is men who predominately die by suicide. Men are less likely than women to seek help for their mental health difficulties and this may contribute to their higher suicide rates. We created a 4-minute music video encouraging Australian men to seek help for mental health difficulties (Boys Do Cry). We aimed to assess in a randomised controlled trial (RCT) whether the Boys Do Cry video increased men’s intentions to seek help for mental health difficulties from baseline (T1) to post-intervention (1 week = T2). Methods: We conducted an online single-blind, two-arm RCT comparing the effects of Boys Do Cry against a control video. Analyses were undert..

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Grants

Awarded by Suicide Prevention Australia


Funding Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the following organisations, who contributed in integral way to Boys Do Cry: Heiress Films, The Hallway, Gotcha4Life, Logicly, Life in Mind, Mantle Health and Roses in the Ocean. We would also like to thank all of the men who volunteered to be part of the Boys Do Cry video, and all of our participants.