Prevalence of Depression and Suicidal Ideation in Family Medicine Residents in Mexico

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Prevalence of Depression and Suicidal Ideation in Family Medicine Residents in Mexico
Language: English
Authors: Miguel Ángel Fernández-Ortega (ORCID 0000-0001-5923-0255), Efren Raúl Ponce-Rosas (ORCID 0000-0002-7712-3856), Alejandra Chavez-Ciriaco (ORCID 0009-0005-8415-748X), Irma Jiménez-Galvan (ORCID 0000-0002-1034-702X), Brandon Salas-Sánchez (ORCID 0000-0002-6731-0578), Itzayana Sánchez-Mendez (ORCID 0009-0006-7462-1047), Andrea Fernanda Aguirre-Vázquez (ORCID 0009-0008-9006-9103), Jesús Alonso Martínez-Ortiz (ORCID 0009-0007-7449-804X), Elizabeth Gómez-Cabrera (ORCID 0009-0001-7158-300X)
Source: Health Education & Behavior. 2026 53(2):160-170.
Availability: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 11
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Graduate Medical Education, Graduate Students, Depression (Psychology), Suicide, Mental Health, Severity (of Disability), Incidence, Predictor Variables
Geographic Terms: Mexico
DOI: 10.1177/10901981251370615
ISSN: 1090-1981
1552-6127
Abstract: Background: Medical training from undergraduate to residency shows high rates of depression and suicidal ideation in students. These findings have been associated with excessive hours worked, little sleep, fatigue, and stress, with a higher possibility of making medical errors and committing suicide within the following year. Objective: To determine the prevalence of depression and suicidal ideation in family medicine residents. Methods: Multicenter, cross-sectional, and exploratory study in resident physicians from 18 states of Mexico. A four-part questionnaire was sent: sociodemographic characteristics, experiences during medical residency, "Patient Health Questionnaire-9" (PHQ-9), and personal and family history. Results: It was reported that 14.3% of resident physicians have moderately severe and severe depression. However, when including the subgroups of physicians who also present mild to mild-moderate depression, the prevalence increases to 59.7%. 16.7% of residents reported having had thoughts of death, and 7.9% reported one or more suicide attempts. Conclusions: The prevalence of depression in family medicine residents is present in three out of five residents, and although suicidal ideation is also high, it is very worrying that almost 8% of the subjects had already attempted suicide, between one and three times higher than reported in another research.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1499479
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:Background: Medical training from undergraduate to residency shows high rates of depression and suicidal ideation in students. These findings have been associated with excessive hours worked, little sleep, fatigue, and stress, with a higher possibility of making medical errors and committing suicide within the following year. Objective: To determine the prevalence of depression and suicidal ideation in family medicine residents. Methods: Multicenter, cross-sectional, and exploratory study in resident physicians from 18 states of Mexico. A four-part questionnaire was sent: sociodemographic characteristics, experiences during medical residency, "Patient Health Questionnaire-9" (PHQ-9), and personal and family history. Results: It was reported that 14.3% of resident physicians have moderately severe and severe depression. However, when including the subgroups of physicians who also present mild to mild-moderate depression, the prevalence increases to 59.7%. 16.7% of residents reported having had thoughts of death, and 7.9% reported one or more suicide attempts. Conclusions: The prevalence of depression in family medicine residents is present in three out of five residents, and although suicidal ideation is also high, it is very worrying that almost 8% of the subjects had already attempted suicide, between one and three times higher than reported in another research.
ISSN:1090-1981
1552-6127
DOI:10.1177/10901981251370615