GP perspectives regarding suicide prevention: a systematic scoping review.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• General Practice
• Mental Healthcare

Background:

• Suicide is a leading cause of death for men under 50 in the UK.
• Patients often interact with General Practitioners (GPs) before a suicide attempt.
• GPs play a crucial role in suicide prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically scope qualitative research on GPs' perspectives of suicide prevention in primary care.
• To explore the challenges and needs of GPs in managing suicidal behavior.
• To identify gaps in current research regarding effective suicide prevention approaches by GPs.

Main Methods:

• Systematic scoping review following PRISMA-ScR guidelines.
• Three-step search strategy with inclusion criteria for qualitative studies focusing on GPs' perspectives.
• Narrative synthesis of data extracted from 12 included studies.

Main Results:

• Four key themes emerged: challenges in managing suicidal behavior, fragmented relationships with mental health services, GPs' personal attitudes, and needs for improved primary care suicide prevention.
• Semi-structured interviews were the predominant qualitative method used.
• Included studies spanned seven countries, highlighting a global perspective on GP involvement in suicide prevention.

Conclusions:

• Challenges faced by GPs in managing suicidal behavior are significant and well-documented.
• Further research is required to identify effective suicide prevention strategies for GPs, with a specific focus on younger populations.
• Understanding GPs' perspectives is vital for enhancing suicide prevention efforts within primary care settings.