What Movember’s Research Reveals About Why Men Quit Therapy.

We often hear that men just need to talk more. But as Movember’s Director of Global Mental Health Research, Dr Zac Seidler, explains, it’s not that simple. Men are talking more than ever — they’re showing up, seeking help, and sitting on therapists’ couches. The problem is what happens after they walk through the door.

Zac’s research reveals a troubling truth: 44% of men drop out of therapy early. Not because of cost or convenience, but because they didn’t feel understood. Too often, therapy asks men to fit into a model that was never built for them.

In our conversation, Zac breaks down why that is, what needs to change, and how both therapists and society can do better by men. We talked about masculinity, vulnerability, and the need for systems that adapt to men — not the other way round. Because if we truly want men to open up, we need to build spaces where they feel seen, respected, and ready to do the work.

The Current System Is Failing Men

As Zac puts it, “We’ve done an incredible job at responding to women’s issues with systemic reform — but when it comes to men, we blame and shame them instead.” Instead of asking how men can change, we should be asking how systems can better serve men.

Therapy, education, and healthcare have all been built with certain assumptions about communication, emotional expression, and vulnerability. But these frameworks often don’t reflect how many men have been socialised to express themselves. As a result, they’re walking into therapy rooms designed for someone else.

Zac and the Movember team are helping to shift the conversation from “fixing men” to fixing the systems that fail them.

The Real Reason Men Drop Out of Therapy

When Movember surveyed thousands of men, the number one reason they gave for quitting therapy wasn’t money or time — it was connection. A staggering 67% said they didn’t feel a personal bond with their therapist.

This insight changes everything. It means men want help, but often feel misunderstood in how it’s being delivered. Many men describe feeling judged or boxed in. They arrive ready to work on themselves, only to find a space that doesn’t quite fit — too focused on talking, not enough on doing. When therapy feels like a test they’re failing rather than a collaboration, they quietly slip away.

The takeaway? Men aren’t disengaged; they’re disheartened. They need therapy that speaks their language — practical, respectful, and grounded in real life. Because when men feel seen and understood, they don’t walk out; they lean in. Connection isn’t a nice-to-have — it’s the difference between dropout and breakthrough.

Meeting Men Where They’re At

Zac’s philosophy is simple: meet men where they are, not where we think they should be. That might mean skipping eye contact, playing pool, or chatting over a video game. Whatever helps them feel at ease.

Many therapists are taught that the only “real” progress comes from deep emotional disclosure. But Zac argues that’s a narrow view. For some men, vulnerability looks like sitting in silence. For others, it’s cracking a joke before admitting they’re struggling. “If you want the guy to engage,” Zac says, “you do it by any means possible.”

Therapy for men doesn’t need to be a “talk fest.” It can be practical, goal-driven, and active — helping men solve problems, not just describe them. Because when therapy feels relevant, men don’t just stay — they thrive. It’s not about changing men; it’s about creating space for them to be themselves while they heal.

Moving Beyond ‘Men Just Need to Talk’

The phrase “men just need to talk” has become a lazy shorthand in mental health campaigns. But as Zac’s research shows, 40% of men who opened up about their mental health regretted it — not because they didn’t want help, but because of how others responded.

Men are hearing “talk more” — but often find that no one’s really listening. Their ways of expressing emotion can be subtle, fragmented, or indirect. When those signals go unnoticed or dismissed, they retreat again.

Instead of telling men to open up, Zac suggests we learn to listen differently. Recognise the breadcrumbs — the “I’m fine” that really isn’t, the humour masking pain, the silence that speaks volumes. Men don’t need to change their language to be understood; we need to expand our capacity to hear it. True progress will come not from forcing men to talk, but from helping them feel safe enough to do so.

Upskilling Therapists: Movember’s Men in Mind Revolution

One of Movember’s most powerful initiatives is Men in Mind — a training programme designed to help therapists better understand and connect with their male clients. Created from years of Zac’s research, it tackles the uncomfortable truth that many therapists simply aren’t taught how masculinity shows up in the therapy room.

The course gives psychologists, counsellors and social workers the tools to recognise men’s unique socialisation — their discomfort with emotional language, their preference for practical solutions, their need for respect and agency. It’s about fine-tuning, not finger-pointing.

Through Men in Mind, Movember is creating a new generation of practitioners who can build rapport, motivate change, and speak to men in ways that actually land. Because when men feel understood, they don’t just stay in therapy — they engage, grow, and thrive. It’s not about rewriting masculinity; it’s about retraining therapy to meet it where it lives.

Conclusion

Zac's work reminds us that the problem isn’t men’s unwillingness to seek help — it’s that too often, help isn’t built for them. If we want men to talk, stay, and heal, we need to reimagine therapy as something that feels for them, not against them.

That means listening differently, training better, and creating spaces where men can show up as they are — without shame, judgment, or stereotypes. Because when men feel seen and supported, they don’t just survive therapy — they thrive in it. And that’s how we build a healthier future for everyone.