Primary Care Interventions in Male Mental Health and Suicide Prevention: A Systematic Review

TL;DR

This review shows that primary care interventions can help improve mental health and reduce suicide rates in men through training, digital tools, and alcohol misuse programs.

Contribution

The study identifies effective multilevel and gender-sensitive primary care strategies for male mental health and suicide prevention.

Findings

Community-based programs with GP training reduced male suicide mortality.

Digital tools and tailored care improved mental health disclosure and well-being.

Alcohol misuse interventions reduced harmful drinking but had mixed effects on suicidality.

Abstract

This systematic review evaluated the effectiveness of primary care interventions in improving male mental health and preventing suicide. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, major medical databases were searched from inception to September 2025 using terms related to male populations, primary care, suicide, mental health, and substance use. After screening over 11,000 unique records and assessing 78 full texts, nine studies met the inclusion criteria. Community-based multilevel programs incorporating general practitioner training were associated with reductions in male suicide mortality compared with control regions and national trends. Tailored primary care programs, including digital tools and men's well-being initiatives, improved disclosure of suicidality, psychological distress, and overall well-being, with some demonstrating cost benefits. Interventions addressing alcohol misuse within primary care significantly reduced harmful drinking and increased abstinence, although their effects on suicidality were mixed. Overall, evidence supports the pivotal role of primary care in suicide prevention for men through clinician education, structured screening, gender-sensitive service delivery, alcohol interventions, and digital engagement tools. Sustained implementation and integration of these approaches are essential to maintain effectiveness and enhance generalizability across primary care settings.

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