Mental health of physicians and medical students in Latin America: a scoping review of reported estimates, associated factors, and public health implications

Physicians and medical students constitute a critical component of health system capacity. In Latin America (LA), heterogeneous health systems, institutional constraints, and workforce pressures may influence mental health outcomes. Although international evidence on burnout, depression, and anxiety has expanded, comprehensive regional mapping of mental health research and its public health implications remains limited. This scoping review aimed to map primary empirical evidence on mental health outcomes among physicians and medical students in LA and identify knowledge gaps relevant to research and public health policy. Following the Arksey and O’Malley framework, refined by Levac et al., and PRISMA-ScR reporting guidelines, we searched PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and SciELO for primary studies published between January 2014 and August 2024. The search was updated on October 8, 2026, to include studies published through September 2026. Eligible studies examined mental health outcomes among medical students and/or physicians in LA. Findings were descriptively synthesized. A total of 233 studies were included, predominantly from Brazil and Mexico. Depression ( n = 107), burnout ( n = 105), and anxiety ( n = 103) were the most frequently assessed outcomes. Reported estimates varied substantially across assessment instruments, definitions, and thresholds. Most studies were observational ( n = 211), whereas 22 evaluated interventions, with limited evidence concerning organizational or system-level approaches. Research on sleep disorders, substance use, suicidal behaviors, and help-seeking barriers was less extensive; only two studies explicitly examined barriers to accessing or engaging with mental health support. Mental health symptoms and burnout were frequently reported among physicians and medical students in LA, but differences in measurement and study design limit comparability and causal inference. Research was concentrated in a limited number of countries, with important gaps concerning organizational conditions, interventions, and access to mental health support. Longitudinal, multicenter, and methodologically rigorous research is needed to inform workforce mental health strategies and strengthen health system resilience across the region.