# Risk factors for the mental health of basic education teachers in Brazil: integrative review

## TL;DR

This study reviews the mental health of basic education teachers in Brazil and identifies key risk factors like work overload and poor working conditions.

## Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive integrative review of psychosocial risk factors affecting teachers' mental health in Brazil.

## Key findings

- High prevalence of anxiety, stress, and burnout symptoms among teachers was reported.
- Work overload, low pay, and poor working conditions were identified as major risk factors.
- School violence and inadequate support contribute to mental health challenges in teachers.

## Abstract

Given the increasing incidence of mental disorders among education
professionals, examining the national scientific literature on the mental
health of basic education teachers in Brazil has become essential.

To assess, through an integrative literature review, the psychosocial factors
associated with teachers’ mental health, with an emphasis on the prevalence
of mental disorders.

The search was conducted between August 2024 and January 2025 in SciELO, the
CAPES Journal Portal, LILACS, and PubMed databases, using descriptors
related to mental health, teachers, basic education, and Brazil, which were
combined through Boolean operators AND and OR. Studies published between
2019 and 2024, available in full text in Portuguese or English, and
specifically addressing the mental health of basic education teachers were
included. The review was guided by the following question: what are the main
risk factors that influence the mental health of basic education teachers in
Brazil?

The analysis of 12 studies revealed a high prevalence of symptoms of anxiety,
stress, and burnout syndrome among teachers. The most frequently reported
psychosocial risk factors included work overload, low pay, poor working
conditions, and exposure to school violence.

Such psychosocial determinants significantly affect teachers’ mental health,
characterizing a public health and occupational concern. The findings
highlight the need for intersectoral policies that support teaching
valuation and promote adequate working conditions and safer and healthier
school environments to preserve the mental health of basic education
teachers.