Challenge | Possible strategies |
---|---|
Engaging men at the right time | • Work with men to help them accept the diagnosis and need for treatment before involving family • Giving men time to “warm-up” to the idea of family involvement |
Preserving men’s sense of autonomy | • Communicate centrality of men’s preferences and values in treatment • Assess men’s preferences for family role in specific aspects of treatment |
Managing privacy concerns | • Educate clinicians about guidelines for involving family members (e.g. HIPAA guidelines) [41] • Allow men to specify topics that are “off-limits” in discussions with family • Allow flexibility for care manager to meet individually with patient • Address men’s concerns about burdening family members |
Navigating family tensions | • Set ground rules for joint sessions • Educate family about the nature of depression • Focus on specific behavioral tasks that can be shared with family • Develop a jointly agreed upon agenda for each treatment session |