Two approaches to mental health in Latin American teachers: a systematic review

Abstract

Introduction: Mental health is an integral component in the well-being of individuals in all their areas of development, therefore this research emphasizes the work context of teachers, glimpsing two approaches, the first, focused on the disease, in which signs, symptoms, damage, problems and mental disorders are evoked; and the second, the positive approach, which exposes it as the optimal functioning of the person, where their qualities are enhanced and maximum personal development is facilitated. Objective: To analyze, through a systematic review, the advances in empirical research in the approach to mental health in teachers in Latin America from a positive and disease-centered approach. Methodology: The PRISMA-P methodology was applied, which is a protocol guide for the development of systematic reviews; the selected databases were SCIELO, EBSCO and ScienceDirect. Results and discussion: 30 articles included, where the period 2014-2019 was the most published (63.3%), the country with the most publications was Brazil (40%), primary and secondary contexts predominate (53.3%) and the most representative approach was focused on the disease (70%). Conclusions: From the empirical evidence, studying mental health in teachers in Latin America is linked to an approach focused on the disease, which accounts for the need to address a comprehensive vision of mental health in teachers within the investigations to be carried out regarding the theme.