Abstract

Presently, stigma is one of most common problems facing mental health care providers. Stigma is generally associated with a lack of knowledge about therapeutic options and their effectiveness. Individuals with such negative stereotypes towards mental health care treatment may therefore not seek help when they need it. Previous research has found that reluctance to pursue mental health treatment is particularly prevalent among rural white males. Additionally, research suggests that many individuals do not make distinctions among the variety of mental health treatments available. Rather, many only recognize one type: cognitive behavioral therapy3 . Therefore, this study aims to see if select individuals with particular demographic and psychographic profiles, specifically rural males with high masculinity beliefs, might prefer ecotherapy (a type of therapy that utilizes some outdoor and nature-based methods) over other therapeutic methods. A regression analysis showed that highly masculine individuals preferred ecotherapy over art therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, and mindfulness based therapy, controlling for gender identity and mental illness stigma. Additionally, this study found that feminine individuals exhibit low stigma towards mental health treatment. Overall, the results suggest that masculine individuals in need of therapy could benefit from being informed about ecotherapeutic options.

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