Background/Objectives: Addictive and substance-related disorders represent a substantial public health challenge, marked by rising incidence and prevalence rates. Men and women exhibit different patterns of help-seeking for health and social issues including addictions. This research aimed to analyze the help-seeking process among men with addiction to improve understanding and develop more effective, person-centered treatments. Methods: This systematic review was performed based on the Cochrane Collaboration guidelines and reported following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The protocol of the revision was registered in advance in PROSPERO. Searches were conducted in the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science (WOS) databases. Results: Based on the literature search, 16 studies were included in the current systematic review. The analyzed studies included seven on substance-use disorders, three on gambling disorder, two on tobacco-use disorder, two addressing substance-related disorders in general, one on opioid-use disorder, and one focused on marijuana use. Gender differences influenced help-seeking behavior, with women generally exhibiting a higher propensity to seek assistance for addiction-related issues than men. Seeking help for addiction—whether substance use or gambling—can be hindered by several barriers, particularly public stigma and discrimination, which tend to be more pronounced for alcohol and gambling compared to tobacco. Additional barriers in the help-seeking process include negative beliefs and attitudes toward seeking help, often associated with traditional male gender roles. Each substance-use disorder was analyzed in depth to gain a better understanding of the barriers faced by this population. Conclusions: Integrating a gender perspective into the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of addiction is essential. As addiction patterns vary between men and women, approaches must be tailored accordingly. Recognizing men as a distinct group in research and clinical practice is also crucial for developing more effective and personalized treatments.

(1) Background: Suicide represents a critical global public health concern. In the majority of countries, men have higher rates of suicide completion, while women show higher rates of suicide attempts. Masculinity is a complex construct shaped by socialization processes that begin early in life. The aim of this study is to explore the influence of masculinity on suicidal behaviors among men. (2) Methods: This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Cochrane and PRISMA guidelines. The review protocol was pre-registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO). (3) Results: This systematic review—which includes 18 studies—highlights the detrimental influence of hegemonic masculinity on both the occurrence and frequency of suicide among men, with a particularly significant negative impact on vulnerable men (e.g., homeless men; adolescents and young men; and men with addiction, depression, and/or other mental health issues), where the consideration of intersectionality is essential. (4) Conclusions: Men who strongly conformed to the norms and values linked to traditional masculinity were more prone to die by suicide and to report experiencing suicidal thoughts and attempts. Analyzing suicidal behavior from a gender perspective is critical for effective prevention and treatment, as gender disparities are clearly observed in both suicide fatalities and nonfatal attempts.

Background/Objectives: In our society, as well as in many other parts of the world, sexuality is shaped through gender-differentiated socialization. This process compels individuals to align their desires, behaviors, emotions, and thoughts with the expectations of normative sexuality, especially hegemonic heterosexuality. The primary objective of this current research was to examine the influence of hegemonic masculinity on the sexuality of men struggling with addiction. Method: This study employed a qualitative approach, specifically using conventional content analysis. To ensure research quality and transparency, the study adhered to the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR) and the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Studies (COREQ). Fourteen participants from a therapeutic community for addiction treatment in Spain were selected through purposive sampling. Data collection involved semi-structured interviews, supplemented by participant observation. The sample size was determined based on the principle of data saturation. Results: The findings reveal that factors such as gender-differentiated socialization, particularly the values associated with hegemonic masculinity (e.g., the pressure to maintain constant sexual availability and sexual initiative), alongside excessive engagement with prostitution and pornography, are closely linked to substance abuse, the development of addictions, and the emergence of sexual dysfunctions in men. The study also highlights the role of challenges related to oppression rooted in heteronormativity—understood as the imposition of rigid norms governing sexual orientation and behavior—in shaping sexual problems and in the origin and maintenance of addictions in men. Conclusions: It is essential to implement an intervention strategy that promotes egalitarian masculinities within the treatment of men with addiction issues, emphasizing a biopsychosocial approach to sexuality that integrates a gender perspective. Additionally, it is crucial to incorporate gender-sensitive interventions into rehabilitation programs for both men and women, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of each group’s specific needs and fostering the development of healthy, equitable relationships in the context of addiction treatment.

Research on men’s mental health points out gender differences in help-seeking and access to care. Traditional masculine norms (i.e., emotional repression, self-reliance, “being strong”) and gender bias might conceal distress, delay treatment, and help to explain higher burdens of addiction, violence, and suicide alongside lower recorded affective/anxiety diagnoses. An exploratory narrative review was conducted. PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched for 2015–2025 studies using MeSH and terms on men’s mental health, masculinities, and stigma. Eleven studies identified attitudinal barriers (i.e., self-stigma, shame, symptom minimization, mistrust, etc.) and structural barriers (i.e., limited tailored services, navigation difficulties, costs, bureaucracy, etc.) that delay identification of psychological distress symptoms, weaken therapeutic alliance, and increase dropout, especially when therapy is perceived as impersonal or ineffective. Intersectional factors (i.e., class, age, ethnicity) further contribute to access and they need to be included in the field of men’s mental health. Gender-sensitive approaches and alternative masculinity role models have the potential to enhance engagement and legitimize emotional experience. To sum up, hegemonic masculinity-related gender norms, acquired through gender-differentiated socialization, are associated with adverse mental health outcomes among men. A lack of gender-sensitive awareness campaigns to reduce stigma around men’s mental health may hinder prevention, delaying early identification and timely intervention. Therefore, men’s mental health care should integrate gender and intersectionality transversally to improve prevention, access, diagnosis, treatment, adherence, and outcomes, supported by professional training and tailored therapeutic tools in clinical routine practice. These findings underscore the need to promote healthier, more egalitarian masculinities and to deconstruct stigmas associated with help-seeking and mental health service.

Background: Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is defined as the intentional damage to one’s body tissue without suicidal intent and for reasons that are not socially sanctioned. While NSSI has been widely studied in the general population, its clinical correlates and management in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) remain less clearly characterized, and it is often conflated with self-injurious behavior (SIB) described within restricted and repetitive behaviors (RRBs). In individuals with ASD, NSSI may be associated with emotional, behavioral, cognitive, social, medical, and demographic factors, and it differs from SIB typically observed among individuals with severe intellectual disabilities. Methods: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Studies published between 2000 and 2025 that assessed NSSI in individuals with a formal ASD diagnosis were included. Etiological/clinical correlates, explanatory mechanisms, and management challenges were examined. Sixteen studies were selected from PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Findings were synthesized using narrative and thematic approaches. Results: The prevalence of NSSI among individuals with ASD ranged from 24% to 50%. Associated factors included emotion dysregulation (including alexithymia and affective distress), behavioral dysregulation (e.g., impulsivity/hyperactivity and aggression), sensory processing difficulties, communication and social impairments, and medical comorbidities (i.e., gastrointestinal and sleep problems), with preliminary evidence also implicating perinatal factors. NSSI was linked to emotion regulation, sensation seeking, and social communication processes. Early intervention and parental involvement were identified as protective factors. Conclusions: NSSI in ASD is a complex, multifactorial phenomenon frequently linked to emotion-regulation needs. Affective imbalance represents a central—though not exclusive—pathway. The review supports standardized terminology, function-based assessment, and clearer differentiation from SIB/RRBs, with implications for individualized interventions and sustained monitoring in persistent or severe cases. Routine screening for medical and sensory contributors may further improve case management and reduce preventable clinical burden.

Background/Objectives: Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) represents a significant global public health challenge that is associated with cognitive deficits, immune dysfunction, and increased susceptibility to different comorbidities. Recent evidence suggests that neuroimmune signalling, particularly microglial activation and cytokine-mediated pathways, plays a critical role in the development, persistence, and relapse vulnerability of AUD. This narrative review aims to synthesize current evidence on the role of cytokines and interleukins (ILs) in AUD, emphasizing their modulation during alcohol exposure, withdrawal, and abstinence. Methods: A comprehensive narrative review methodology was employed, including a search in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science using relevant keywords. Peer-reviewed studies published in English that examined cytokine and interleukin profiles in adults with AUD were included. The main findings were synthesized into thematic domains to identify recurring patterns, inconsistencies, and research gaps. Results: AUD is associated with significant alterations in cytokine profiles. Pro-inflammatory markers such as IL-1β, IL-6, tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), IL-8, and IL-18 are elevated during active alcohol use and early abstinence, while anti-inflammatory markers like IL-10 show fluctuations. These immune changes are linked to systemic inflammation, neurotoxicity, and AUD severity. Cytokine levels tend to normalize with sustained abstinence, although severe AUD may lead to prolonged immune dysregulation. Associations between inflammatory markers and psychiatric symptoms, including anxiety and depression, were also observed. Conclusions: Immune dysregulation plays a central role in AUD pathophysiology, with cytokines serving as potential biomarkers for disease progression and treatment response. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies, diverse patient populations, and mechanistic investigations to refine biomarker utility and develop targeted immunomodulatory therapies. Addressing inflammation and neuroplasticity may enhance clinical outcomes in AUD management.