In recent years, a quiet transformation has been underway in mental health care—one that’s giving men a more accessible path to treatment. At the heart of this shift is internet psychiatry, a digital solution that’s rapidly gaining traction among male patients who might otherwise never seek help.
The Centre for Digital Psychiatry, based in Odense and operating nationwide in Denmark, has seen a significant uptick in male participation. “Over the past few years, the number of men reaching out to us has increased more than what we’ve observed among women,” says Marie Paldam Folker, Director of the Centre.
While women still represent the majority of internet psychiatry users, the narrowing gender gap is noteworthy. Men traditionally seek psychological help at lower rates than women, often deterred by stigma, logistical challenges, or reluctance to engage in emotionally vulnerable conversations. Internet psychiatry appears to be lowering those barriers.
Convenience Meets Confidentiality
The model is straightforward yet powerful: therapy sessions take place over video, and guided psychological exercises can be completed at the user’s convenience. There’s no need to visit a clinic, sit in a waiting room, or obtain a doctor’s referral—barriers that can be particularly off-putting to men.
“This platform emphasizes self-guided improvement,” explains Folker. “That message—help for self-help—resonates with many male users. They appreciate the autonomy.”
Roughly 40% of users are referred through their general practitioner, but the rest discover the service via social media, word-of-mouth, or online searches. The flexibility and discretion of digital treatment make it an attractive option for those seeking support on their own terms.
A Different Set of Symptoms
Psychologist Amel Skobalj, who has been with the digital psychiatry team for five years, conducts initial assessments for new patients. He notes that men often present with different symptom patterns compared to women.
“Isolation, frustration, and irritability are common among our male patients,” he says. “These aren’t always recognized as classic symptoms of depression or anxiety, which might be why many men don’t relate to traditional awareness campaigns.”
The program is designed for adults suffering from mild to moderate depression and anxiety and runs for 12 weeks—completely free of charge. And it’s working: in 2024 alone, 1,085 men enrolled in internet-based treatment, a sharp increase from 706 in 2023.
A Scalable, Sustainable Mental Health Solution
For business leaders and healthcare innovators, the rise of internet psychiatry holds broader implications. It demonstrates how digital platforms can meet unmet needs, scale access to care, and cater to previously underserved demographics. It also offers a replicable model for other nations wrestling with mental health care disparities. By eliminating logistical and psychological hurdles, internet psychiatry is not only expanding access—it’s reshaping the way men engage with mental health services. In doing so, it’s helping to normalise a new, healthier standard for masculine self