Mental Health Prevention and Promotion Programs: A Systematic Review

Abstract

The objective of this systematic review was to examine the existing empirical evidence on programs aimed at mental health promotion and prevention in university settings. The methodology involved exhaustive searches across recognized scientific databases, including empirical studies published in English or Spanish over the past five years. Inclusion criteria focused on methodological rigor and the presentation of evaluative outcomes were applied. Extracted data encompassed target populations, theoretical models, intervention techniques, and results, which were analyzed using a descriptive and qualitative approach to identify patterns, strengths, and limitations. Results demonstrate a wide diversity of programs implemented in universities, highlighting interventions based on coping skills training, resilience building, suicide prevention psychoeducation, and cognitive-behavioral therapies. A growing trend toward brief, digitized, and self-applied programs is observed, alongside the frequent use of strategies such as mindfulness, emotion regulation, and peer support. Most studies employed quasi-experimental and experimental designs with pre- and post-intervention measures. The analyzed evidence confirms the efficacy and relevance of mental health promotion and prevention programs for university students; these interventions not only improve key psychological indicators but also present accessible and adaptable formats for diverse contexts, underscoring the need for their institutionalization as sustainable, accessible, and evidence-based strategies to address emerging mental health challenges.