Boys Do Cry: what do Australian men think of a music video encouraging them to talk about their mental health struggles?

Abstract

Background: Suicides by men account for three-quarters of all Australian suicides. This increased risk may relate to the traditional masculine norm of ‘self-reliance’, which can hinder men from seeking help when experiencing mental health difficulties. We created and tested the effects of a four-minute, purpose-designed music video, ‘Boys Do Cry’, to encourage Australian men to show emotion and reach out to others when facing mental health difficulties. Methods: A total of 221 men (aged 18+) watched the Boys Do Cry video and completed two surveys about their opinions of the video and its impact. Data were collected as part of a broader randomised controlled trial. We conducted descriptive an..