Lydia Spencer-Elliott’s investigation into why so many men avoid therapy has prompted a wide spectrum of reactions from Independent readers – from staunch defences of self-reliance to impassioned calls for greater compassion and openness.
Several commenters argued that men’s reluctance to seek help is rooted in lifelong social conditioning. Some noted that many men learn to maintain a façade of strength, making it difficult to admit vulnerability or break “the habit of a lifetime”. Others stressed that stigma within male peer groups remains a major barrier, with emotional openness still seen by some as weakness.
