Student assistance and mental health promotion in brazilian federal universities: an integrative review

uma revisão integrativa

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-57652025v30id291604

Keywords:

student assistance, mental health, higher education

Abstract

The objective of this article is to describe the relationships between student assistance and the scenario of promoting mental health care for the population of university students at Brazilian Federal Higher Education Institutions. Methodologically, the research adopts a qualitative, descriptive and exploratory approach, based on an integrative review of articles published in the last five years (2019-2024) in portuguese and english, available in the BVS-Psi, Lilacs, CAPES Journals and SciELO databases. The descriptors "student assistance", "mental health" and "well-being" were used, resulting in the selection and analysis, according to inclusion and exclusion criteria, of 18 studies. The results reveal a complex and multifaceted scenario in the implementation of student assistance actions and programs aimed at students' mental health, also highlighting the challenges that compromise the effectiveness of these initiatives. Therefore, it highlights the need for collective actions by university managers and student entities, in addition to mental health care strategies and intersectoral assistance, to promote the biopsychosocial well-being of students and encourage a healthy and supportive academic culture.

Author Biographies

  • Rafael Anunciação Oliveira, Federal University of Bahia

    PhD student at the Graduate Program in Psychology at the Federal University of Bahia. Psychologist (CRP-03/22720) graduated from Anísio Teixeira College (FAT, 2020) and Master in Interdisciplinary Studies about the University from the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA, 2022).

  • Renata Meira Véras, Federal University of Bahia

    I have a degree in Psychology from the Federal University of Paraíba (2001), a degree in Physiotherapy from the University Center of João Pessoa (2005), a Master's degree in Psychology (Social Psychology) from the Federal University of Paraíba (2004) and a PhD in Social Psychology from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (2010). I completed a sandwich doctorate with a CAPES scholarship at the Universidade Aberta de Lisboa - PT and a six-month exchange with a GSEP scholarship (Canadian Government) at the Faculty of Medicine at Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada. I am currently an Associate Professor of the Interdisciplinary Bachelor's Degree in Health at UFBA and a Permanent Member of the Postgraduate Program Interdisciplinary Studies on the University of UFBA and of the Postgraduate Program in Psychology at UFBA. I am the coordinator of the Working Group of the National Association of Research and Postgraduate Studies in Psychology (ANPPEP) Intergroup Relations: Prejudice and Social Exclusion. I have experience in research in the area of ​​ethnic-racial education, University and decolonial methodologies. I am a CNPq level 2 productivity researcher. I am currently the Coordinator of the Institutional Program for Scientific Initiation Scholarships (PIBIC) at UFBA.

  • Tânia Maria de Araújo, State University of Feira de Santana

    Graduated in Psychology from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (1990), Master in Community Health from the Federal University of Bahia (1994), PhD in Public Health from the Federal University of Bahia (1999), Post-doctorate at the University of Massachusetts, United States (2004) and at Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf (HHU) (2019). Visiting Professor at Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf (HHU), Germany (2018-2019). Full Professor at the State University of Feira de Santana. Coordinator of the Epidemiology Center at UEFS. Professor of the Postgraduate Programs in Public Health (UEFS) and Health, Environment and Work (UFBA). Member of the Epidemiology Committee (2018-2021) and of the Mental Health GT of the Brazilian Association of Public Health / ABRASCO. Member of the Collegiate Coordination of the Epidemiology Commission/ABRASCO (2022-2024). Coordinator of the GT Master Plan for the Development of Epidemiology in Brazil - 20024-2028/ Epidemiology Commission/Abrasco. Co-Chair of the Work Organization Psychosocial Factors Committee of the International Commission on Occupational Health (ICOH-WOPS) (2018-2022 and 2022-2024). Member of the Quadrennial Evaluation Committee of Academic Postgraduate Programs of CAPES (2022). Associate Editor of the Brazilian Journal of Epidemiology (Mental Health), the Journal of Science Collective Health (Health and Work area) and the Brazilian Journal of Occupational Health. Member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Cadernos Saúde Coletiva (UFRJ). She participated in the WG that prepared the Protocol for Work-Related Vocal Disorders (DVRT), published by the Ministry of Health in 2018. She participated in the WG that discussed the Guidelines for Surveillance and Comprehensive Care for Work-Related Mental Health created by the General Coordination of Occupational Health of the Ministry of Health (2017). She coordinates the Mental Health and Work WG of the Broad Front in Defense of Workers' Health. Deputy Scientific Director of the Brazilian Association for Workers' Health (ABRASTT), Management 2022-2023. She has experience in the area of ​​​​Public Health, with an emphasis on Mental Health and Work, working mainly on the following topics: mental health, occupational stress, mental health and work, working conditions, teaching work and health, gender and health, inequalities in mental health, surveillance in mental health and work.

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Published

2025-12-10

Issue

Vol. 30 (2025)

Section

Artigo

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Copyright (c) 2025 Rafael Anunciação Oliveira, Renata Meira Véras, Tânia Maria de Araújo

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How to Cite

Student assistance and mental health promotion in brazilian federal universities: an integrative review: uma revisão integrativa. Avaliação: Revista da Avaliação da Educação Superior, Campinas; Sorocaba, SP, v. 30, p. e035030, 2025. DOI: 10.1590/1982-57652025v30id291604. Disponível em: https://submission.scielo.br/index.php/aval/article/view/291604. Acesso em: 18 dec. 2025.