Impacts of Social Determinants on the Mental Health of the Brazilian Population: Implications for Public Health

Mental illness is a complex and multifactorial condition, directly influenced by the social determinants of health, which encompass political, economic, cultural, social, and regional aspects. This study is characterized as a narrative literature review, designed to gather, organize, and analyze updated knowledge on the social determinants of health and their impacts on the mental health of the population, as well as their implications within the field of public health. The study was conducted between March and April 2026, encompassing both national and international sources. For the bibliographic search, the following databases were selected: SciELO, PubMed/MEDLINE, Virtual Health Library (VHL), LILACS, and Google Scholar. Official reports from international organizations, such as the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as institutional technical documents related to mental health and public health, were also included. Regarding the study selection process, the application of the search strategy across the selected databases initially resulted in 1,441 records. The comparative analysis of the studies demonstrates that recent scientific production recognizes psychological distress as an expression of social inequalities that permeate the lives of populations, moving away from interpretations restricted to the isolated individual. Furthermore, this study underscores the importance of incorporating social determinants as a structural axis in the formulation of public policies in mental health, emphasizing the need for intersectoral actions that articulate different sectors, such as health, education, social assistance, and labor.