Depression is an important public health problem that requires more and better attention. In the present work we review epidemiologic studies of depression among adolescents in Mexico and discuss strategies that may help in earlier identification and referral of potential cases for timely care. In summary, depressive symptoms are prevalent among adolescents and adults in Mexico as in many other countries, with a higher ratio of female cases. Young people experiencing the most challenging socio-urban situations have higher rates of depression. Even though depressive disorders are more prevalent among females, consequences may be even worse for males. The authors posit that, among males, stigma attached to depression might lead to attempts to hide depressive symptoms by masking them through high-risk behaviors (e.g., alcohol, drug use, and violence, among others). Women may have higher rates of suicide attempts, but the case-fatality rate of suicide attempts is higher among males. Despite of barriers and resource scarcity among healthcare and educational institutions, it is necessary to continue to develop alternatives that will lead to better attention of mental health issues among the youth, even when their mental health needs are not expressed directly or their chief complaints are in regard to "other" health issues.

The CES-D-R has excellent psychometric characteristics for Mexican adolescents and therefore is deemed as an adequate tool for the assessment of depressive symptoms in large samples to detect mental health needs and design preventive interventions.

Background: Suicide and suicidal behaviors were already a global public health problem, producing preventable injuries and deaths. This issue may worsen due to the COVID-19 pandemic and may differentially affect vulnerable groups in the population, including children, adolescents, and young adults. The current study evaluated the association of affective variables (depression, hopelessness, and anxiety), drug use (alcohol, tobacco, and others), emotional intelligence, and attachment with suicidal behaviors. Methods: A state-wide survey included 8033 students (51% female, 49% male; mean age of 16 years) from science and technology high-schools using a standardized questionnaire that was distributed online. Multinomial logistic regression models tested associations between suicidal behaviors and several covariates. The analyses accommodated the complex structure of the sample. Results: Approximately 21% of all students reported a suicidal behavior (11% with a low-lethality suicide attempt, 6% with self-injuries, and 4% with a high-lethality suicide attempt). Variables associated with higher odds of suicidal behavior included: female sex, depression, hopelessness, anxiety, alcohol and tobacco use, childhood trauma, and having to self-rely as issues affecting attachment, and low self-esteem. Security of attachment was associated with lower odds of suicidal behavior. Conclusions: The complexity of suicidal behavior makes it clear that comprehensive programs need to be implemented.

This study evaluated the link between relatives' criticism of overweight or obese teenage girls' figure and body weight and their relationship with their mothers, fathers and siblings, affection, self-esteem, the internalization of the aesthetic body thin ideal, depressive symptoms and disordered eating behaviors (DEB). The sample comprised 2174 senior high school students aged 15 to 19. Teenagers criticized by their relatives showed higher DEB, without interaction between Body Mass Index (BMI) and DEB. The structural equations model showed DEB was primarily explained by the internalization of the body aesthetic thin ideal, family's criticism, BMI and depressive symptoms.

SUMMARYAvailable data on mental health among female sex workers in Mexico are scarce. The scarce evidence shows that the prevalence of depression and suicidal problems is much higher than in the general population. The objective of this article was to explore the psychosocial factors associated with depression and suicide risk in a sample of 103 sex workers from the state of Hidalgo, Mexico. Among them, the frequency of depression and suicide risk was higher than for women in the general population (39.8% and 3.0%, respectively). The variables that predicted these illnesses were a bad relationship with the mother, the negative health effects due to alcohol use, partner violence, and sexual violence. It is necessary to consider these results to promote actions that reduce or eliminate partner violence, promote the acquisition of skills to manage the negative consequences of violence and implement strategies to reduce the harm caused by alcohol consumption in this vulnerable group of the population.Key words: Depression, sex workers, suicide risk, alcohol use.. RESUMENLos datos disponibles sobre la salud mental en trabajadoras sexuales en México son escasos. Sin embargo la poca evidencia disponible muestra que las prevalencias de depresión y problemática suicida son mucho más elevadas que en la población general. El objetivo de este artículo es explorar los factores psicosociales que se relacionan con la depresión y el riesgo de suicidio en una muestra de 103 trabajadoras sexuales del Estado de Hidalgo, México. Los resultados muestran que las frecuencias de depresión y riesgo de suicidio fueron más elevadas que en las mujeres de la población general (39.8 y 3.0%, respectivamente). Las variables que predijeron estos malestares fueron la mala relación con la madre, los efectos perjudiciales del consumo de alcohol sobre la salud física y las actividades domésticas, la violencia de la pareja y la violencia sexual. Es necesario considerar estos resultados para propiciar acciones que reduzcan o eliminen la violencia de pareja, fomenten la adquisición de habilidades para el manejo de las consecuencias negativas de la violencia, así como implementar estrategias para reducir el daño ocasionado por el consumo de alcohol en este grupo poblacional en situación de vulnerabilidad.Palabras clave: Depresión, riesgo suicida, trabajadoras sexuales, consumo de alcohol. INTRODUCCIÓNLa depresión y la problemática suicida se encuentran entre los principales problemas de salud mental pública que enfrenta la población de México. En la Encuesta Nacional de Epidemiología Psiquiátrica, que se realiza con población general entre los 18 y 65 años de edad, se encontró una prevalencia de problemas depresivos alguna vez en la vida de 4.8% (2.6% en hombres y 6.8% en mujeres).1 Se ha documentado que en 2.0% de la población, éstos se inician durante la infancia o la adolescencia, que no reciben tratamiento y que están relacionados de manera directa con la problemática suicida.2,3