Masculinity is a construct that is socially created and defined within a given time period (Kimmel, 2006). The research that is conducted on this specific topic shifts given one's cultural understanding of masculinity, which can differ from one man to another. Most of the literature and research investigates how masculinity negatively affects men in the realm of both physical and mental health (Brannon, 1985). Although there is a significant body of research that examines the traditional gender norms of masculinity (Kilmartin, 2010; Englar-Carlson & Stevens, 2006; Wong, Pituch, & Rochlen, 2006), there is a sparse amount of research examining how masculinity is changing and how this new conceptualization can affect men's understanding of mental health and mental health services. The purpose of this study was to investigate and explore the experiences men had in relation to their gender identity and how they came to understand the construct of mental health. A phenomenological approach was used to best understand each individual's lived experience, as well as bring together the overall collective knowledge of these ten participants. Two categories and 11 themes emerged during the data collection phase of the semi-structured interviews. The categories can be understood as: (a) masculine identity formation within Western Culture and (b) how one comes to understand mental health. With minimal exceptions, the participants' understanding of their own gender identity and where they learned it from aligned with the established literature. For the most part, men's masculine identity formation came from paternal figures in a man's life, media, and peers. The participants were able to speak to many common themes of traditional masculinity, but the level in which these participants integrated these models into their sense of self varied. Some participants rejected certain traditional models based on their own process of exploring their own gender (both feminine and masculine traits) and culture. Most participants challenged their own construct of masculinity because they saw themselves not fitting these traditional models. The topic of one's sexual orientation arose for many of the participants. For example, some individuals made the assumptions that if a man possessed too many feminine qualities, he was gay. Participants' level of comfort and openness around the constructs of mental health and mental health services varied. Two of the biggest contributing factors were if they had previously sought out mental health services prior or had a family member discuss their own understanding of mental health. The participants did have a general understanding in relation to how to destigmatize mental health services so other men could access these types of services. Further research is needed in the realm of how one's re-conceptualized and ever changing definition of masculinity can affect one's perception of mental health. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]