DEPRESSION AND SUICIDE AMONG INDIGENOUS PEOPLE: AN ANALYSIS OF THE ROLE OF NURSING IN PREVENTION

Abstract

This article aimed to analyze the main risk factors affecting the mental health of indigenous communities in Brazil, especially in the context of depression and suicide, and to highlight the role of nursing in the prevention and promotion of mental health among these people. Through a qualitative bibliographic review, recent scientific productions addressing the indigenous psychosocial reality and the performance of nursing professionals were investigated. The results indicate that the loss of territories, prejudice, cultural invisibility, difficulty accessing health services, and the imposition of a biomedical model are factors that intensify psychological suffering in indigenous communities. Nursing, in this context, plays a fundamental role by promoting culturally sensitive care practices that integrate traditional knowledge with prevention strategies. It is concluded that the intercultural training of health professionals and the appreciation of indigenous epistemologies are urgent in addressing the mental health crisis of these populations.