Shepherd, Gary ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8178-1141, Murphy, Holly ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-1648-3574 and Farrar, Eugene (2026) The Social Landscape of Male Mental Health: A Scoping Review of Community-Based Support Groups and Engagement Models. Advances in Mental Health. (Submitted)

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Abstract

Objective: This scoping review maps the landscape of community-based mental health support groups for men, drawing predominantly on evidence from the UK, Ireland, and Australia. It identifies prevalent group types and theoretical perspectives to determine which models men utilize and the specific psychological benefits these environments provide.
Method: Guided by the Arksey and O’Malley framework, the PAGER framework, and PRISMA-ScR reporting guidance (Tricco et al., 2018), a systematic search was conducted between August and December 2024 across four primary databases (APA PsycARTICLES, APA PsycInfo, CINAHL, and SocINDEX), supplemented by Google Scholar. The review synthesized 27 qualitative, mixed-methods, and review studies published in English, focusing on non-clinical engagement models ranging from traditional sports to digital platforms.
Results: Physical activity emerged as the dominant modality, with football-based groups in the UK and Men’s Sheds in Australia serving as primary cornerstones. Across the seven benefit themes identified, interpersonal and collective connectedness emerged as the most consistently evidenced finding, feeding from the broadest range of included studies of any theme pair and encompassing both individual bonds between members and a shared, group-level identity. Groups aligning with masculine norms, prioritizing informality, purpose, and ‘shoulder-to-shoulder’ activity, successfully bypassed traditional help-seeking barriers. Additional benefits included identity reconstruction (shifting from ‘patient’ to teammate), cognitive respite from clinical symptoms, and gains in confidence and self-concept linked to group membership. Evidence for benefits specific to marginalized and intersectional cohorts was identified but rests on only two case studies and is presented with appropriate caution.
Discussion: Community-based groups offer robust, non-stigmatizing alternatives to clinical care by addressing the social determinants of health rather than just recreation, with interpersonal and collective connectedness emerging as the most consistently reported benefit linking diverse group types. Future research should test whether this pattern reflects a genuine underlying mechanism and extend the evidence base for intersectional and marginalized cohorts, while policy should prioritize sustained investment in pre-established community assets to effectively support diverse male populations.

Item Type:	Article
Status:	Submitted
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology > BF637 Counselling
School/Department:	School of Education, Language and Psychology
URI:	https://ray.yorksj.ac.uk/id/eprint/15565

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