SOCIAL DETERMINANTS, BIOETHICS AND INDIGENOUS MENTAL HEALTH: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF BRAZILIAN SCIENTIFIC PRODUCTION

Abstract

The mental health of Indigenous peoples in Brazil has become an increasingly relevant topic in the fields of Public Health, Bioethics, and health policy due to the persistence of social inequalities, territorial vulnerabilities, and high rates of psychological distress and suicide observed in specific Indigenous communities. In this context, the present study aimed to critically analyze the scientific literature on Indigenous mental health, discussing the extent to which contemporary research incorporates the social determinants of health or reproduces interpretations predominantly focused on individual factors. This study consists of a narrative literature review with a qualitative and critical-reflective approach, based on the analysis of scientific articles, regulatory documents, and national and international institutional publications addressing Indigenous mental health, bioethics, interculturality, and social determinants of health. The findings revealed that psychological distress among Indigenous peoples is strongly associated with historical, social, cultural, and territorial factors, including land conflicts, food insecurity, discrimination, socioeconomic vulnerability, and limited access to healthcare services. Furthermore, exclusively biomedical approaches were found to be insufficient for understanding these phenomena, highlighting the need for intercultural and socially contextualized perspectives. It is concluded that promoting Indigenous mental health requires strategies that integrate healthcare assistance, territorial protection, cultural appreciation, and the reduction of structural inequalities, thereby strengthening culturally sensitive public policies committed to the rights of Indigenous peoples.