Luis Eduardo Mojica Ospina

Introduction: Mental health problems are increasingly prevalent among school-aged children and adolescents, underscoring the need for teacher-inclusive mental health interventions. Objectives: To examine the association between sociodemographic and socioemotional factors and resilience among teachers, prior to their participation in a school-based intervention aimed at strengthening socioemotional competencies. Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among 693 teachers from 56 public schools in Amazonas, Boyacá, and Vaupés, Colombia. Teachers completed standardized instruments including the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), Compassion Scale (ECOM), and Prosocial Personality Battery (PSB), along with mental health screeners for anxiety (HARS), depression (Whooley), and PTSD (PCL-C). Descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses, and multivariate linear regressions were used to assess associations between socioemotional factors and resilience scores. Results: The mean age was 47.13 years (SD = 9.91); most were female (65.95%). Median resilience score was 76 (IQR = 69–86). Teachers from Vaupés showed higher resilience, while those from Boyacá had lower scores. Higher compassion (ECOM: β = 0.23; 95% CI: 0.10–0.36) and prosociality scores (PSB: β = 0.43; 95% CI: 0.31–0.54) were independently associated with increased resilience. Conversely, higher anxiety levels (HARS: β = −0.22; 95% CI: −0.39 to − 0.06) and a positive depression screen (Whooley: β = −2.46; 95% CI: −5.18 to 0.25) were associated with lower resilience scores. Age and sex were not independently associated with resilience in the adjusted model. Conclusions: Mental health programs in school settings should prioritize teacher well-being as a central component for promoting student mental health outcomes. Findings underscore the relevance of addressing socioemotional skills and resilience in educators, particularly in contexts affected by armed conflict.

Este estudio cualitativo, de enfoque hermenéutico, explora las experiencias de envejecimiento en personas mayores sexualmente diversas en Colombia. Se realizaron seis grupos focales con 60 participantes mayores de 60 años en Bogotá y Cali durante 2023, utilizando codificación axial y el software Atlas Ti para el análisis. Se identificaron cuatro tendencias: la necesidad de enfoques interseccionales; prácticas inclusivas en salud; ampliación de perfiles LGBTIQ+ estudiados; y diseño de políticas públicas sensibles a la diversidad. Los hallazgos revelan trayectorias de vida marcadas por discriminación, estigma, soledad y acceso desigual a servicios. También evidencian formas de resistencia, redes de apoyo y agencia. Se resalta la importancia de metodologías trianguladas y participativas, así como la urgencia de políticas inclusivas que reconozcan las múltiples identidades. Esta investigación aporta al desarrollo de intervenciones más justas y efectivas, y sugiere nuevas líneas de indagación sobre envejecimiento exitoso y estrés minoritario desde las voces de la población LGBTIQ+.

In Colombia, a country marked by armed conflict and deep social inequalities, stigma and perceptions of psychosocial disability critically influence access to rights and services. This qualitative study examines how these perceptions have evolved through a review of previous qualitative research. Organized around three key moments-the period prior to the implementation of the National Mental Health Policy, the disability certification process, and a recent participatory research initiative-the analysis identifies persistent tensions in institutional narratives and first-person accounts. The findings show a consistent gap between legal frameworks and lived experiences, particularly in indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities affected by violence. Although official policies promote inclusion and rehabilitation, they often fail to connect with local realities due to the persistence of stigma and discrimination, the effects of self-stigma on the subjective appropriation of rights, and the limited meaningful participation of persons with disabilities in key processes such as peacebuilding. Victims with disabilities face additional challenges that affect their mental health and restrict their social participation. While there have been institutional efforts to establish care pathways and guarantee rights, there remains limited understanding of how stigma and self-stigma have evolved - if at all - since the implementation of the National Mental Health Policy, as well as the impact of bureaucratic processes, such as certification, on subjective representations of disability. This analysis underscores the need for community strategies that consider cultural differences and confront structural and symbolic exclusion. The recent approval of the Mental Health Law 2025 represents a renewed opportunity to move forward, highlighting the importance of longitudinal and participatory monitoring to assess its impact on access, equity and social participation.

In low- and middle-income countries such as Colombia, the increasing prevalence of mental disorders in youth has driven interest in school-based community-based psychosocial interventions aimed at prevention and wellness promotion. However, little is yet known about how key capacities such as resilience and compassion are perceived in these contexts, where patterns of access to resources are limited and cultural dynamics may differ significantly from those documented in Western, educated, industrialized, wealthy, and democratic countries from which most of the existing research originates. This study explored perceptions of resilience and compassion among children, adolescents and teachers in educational institutions in three departments of Colombia. A qualitative observational study with a phenomenological approach was conducted within the framework of the intervention “Conmigo, Contigo y Con Todos – 3Cs” (with me, with you, and with everyone) which analyzed 833 focus groups: 166 with teachers and 667 with students in three measurement moments. The findings reveal that resilience and compassion are dynamic capacities shaped by emotional experiences and sociocultural context. The 3Cs Model facilitated processes of self-reflection, emotional regulation, reinforcement of mutual care, a deeper sense of community, and a reconfiguration of the school environment as a space for collective care and emotional safety. In addition, there was evidence of a re-signification of suffering among both teachers and students. These results underscore the value of contextually relevant, community-based, school-centered interventions for promoting mental health awareness and enhancing socio-emotional competencies in educational settings affected by adversity.

In low- and middle-income countries such as Colombia, school-based mental health interventions that promote resilience and compassion have been consolidated as effective strategies to promote emotional well-being in adolescents, especially in contexts affected by the armed conflict. “Conmigo, Contigo y Con Todo” (3C) is a psychoeducational model designed to strengthen resilience, compassion and inclusion in school settings, through strategies based on cognitive-behavioral and third-generation approaches. This qualitative study aimed to explore children and adolescents’ perceptions of resilience, compassion and inclusion, and to understand how these were transformed after their participation in the 3C model and three months later, compared to their initial perceptions. A total of 335 focus groups were conducted with students aged 6 to 18 years before, during and after the intervention. Data were analyzed using a six-phase thematic analysis with inductive coding. Findings evidenced a dynamic process in which participants re-signified resilience as a proactive ability to cope with adversity, while compassion and empathy evolved into concrete actions of mutual support and care. This process reflected the practical integration of the model in their school and personal contexts. The results underscore the potential of culturally sensitive school-based interventions to promote psychosocial well-being, highlighting the importance of strategies that empower students as active agents in their emotional and social development.

Background: Population aging is a major demographic challenge, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where the burden of chronic and neurocognitive conditions is projected to grow sharply. Objectives: This scoping review aimed to synthesize scientific evidence on interventions that promote healthy aging across the life course. It was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute PCC framework. Methods: A systematic search was performed across PubMed, Scielo, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Cochrane, and LiLACS, without language or date restrictions. Results: From 5,808 records screened, 219 studies met the inclusion criteria, comprising systematic reviews, meta-analyses, clinical trials, quasi-experimental, and observational studies. Interventions were classified by thematic domains, including physical and mental health, social participation, education, technology, nutrition, public policy, and cultural aspects. Conclusions: Most studies focused on adult and older populations, with physical and mental health representing the predominant areas addressed, while other dimensions were less represented. Significant gaps remain regarding racially diverse populations, advanced-aged older adults, genetic stratification, and life-course perspectives, underscoring the need for diversified research designs to guide equitable and comprehensive healthy ageing strategies.

Violence and social exclusion are interconnected issues driven by factors such as inequality, poverty, and weak state institutions, leading to the marginalization of vulnerable groups. Being able to measure individuals’ ability to include others could be useful in guiding social intervention programs and improving resource allocation, especially in vulnerable populations. Using a mixed methods study we developed, pilot tested and evaluated a research-based scale to assess individuals’ inclusion intent as a proxy for inclusion capacity. The psychometric properties of this scale were also assessed. We found strong internal consistency for the entire scale (α = 0.89) and for two of the three domains (Attitudes α = 0.84, Perceived Control α = 0.83). Although the Subjective Norm domain showed lower reliability (α = 0.51), likely due to the limited number of items. These results provide preliminary evidence of construct validity whilst suggesting areas for enhancement, particularly regarding the measurement of the subjective norms related to inclusion. The new ICIS scale provides an innovative and reliable measure of inclusion intent, serving as an indicator of inclusion capacity. It is a useful tool for assessing individual inclusion abilities across various fields, including research, clinical practice, and policy development or implementation. Furthermore, it could be used to assess the general inclusion capacity of a community. Due to its recent introduction, direct comparisons with prior studies remain challenging. Further research is required to adjust any underperforming aspects of the scale and assess its validity in wider populations.

Objective: To explore mental health promotion interventions for victims of Colombian armed conflict. Design: Scoping review. Methods: Searches were conducted using indexed and free terms regarding mental health promotion interventions for victims of Colombian armed conflict in different databases, including MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scielo, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, LiLACS, Google Scholar, and PsycArticles. We included primary and secondary research sources, including clinical trials, randomized controlled trials, qualitative research, online journals, meta-analyses, scoping reviews, and systematic reviews, as well as government reports and articles about implementing mental health promotion strategies for victims of Colombian armed conflict. Results: Our search returned 317 identified articles through database exploration. Four more articles were included through literature research and another four records were included through gray literature and government reports. Retrieved citations were screened using Rayyan QCRI. A total of 259 records were left after duplicate removal. Members of the group then performed a paired-blind screening, which left us with 16 articles to be included in the analysis. Data analysis was conducted by authors in pairs using custom tools developed by the research team. After reviewing the articles, only six met the inclusion criteria established for this scoping review. Among these, two of the interventions addressed were randomized clinical trials that demonstrated effects on depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Additionally, one of these trials assessed impairments in functionality. Conclusion: A total of six articles demonstrated the effectiveness of mental health promotion and primary prevention interventions in Colombian victims of armed conflict. However, only two of the studies were randomized clinical trials, and methodological limitations were evident, including loss in sample follow-up, challenges in comparing populations, and use of non-standardized scales across different studies. This hinders the possibility of a unified assessment of these interventions and highlights the need for bigger study samples and use of tools that facilitate access to programs and one-year follow-ups to enhance interventions government organizations employ to address these mental health needs.

La encefalitis mediada por anticuerpos es poco reconocida y presenta un campo heterogéneo y polimorfo dentro de la intersección entre la oncología y la neuropsiquiatría. Se presenta el caso de una mujer de 75 años con antecedente de timoma en estadío avanzado, quien desarrolla subagudamente síntomas neuropsiquiátricos, con hallazgos positivos al examen neurológico, mental y paraclínicos. El tratamiento iniciado exacerbó la sintomatología afectiva, con cambio en el manejo requiriendo dosis altas de psicofármacos. Este caso permite la discusión de aspectos de la fisiopatología, clínica, diagnóstico y tratamiento en un paciente con un cuadro poco usual de un síndrome paraneoplásico asociado a una neoplasia no resecable que debuta con síntomas neuropsiquiátricos y cuyo tratamiento inmune genera dificultades clínicas.