THE IMPORTANCE OF POSITIVE FACTORS IN PROTECTING MENTAL HEALTH AND SUICIDAL BEHAVIOR AMONG CITIZENS OF THE PORTUGUESE LANGUAGE COUNTRIES (CPLC)

Introduction: When it comes to mental health, traditional research has been revolving around risk factors and their repercussions on health. On the other hand, understanding positive underlies prevention strategies of self-improvement these skills, social clinical interventions necessary maintain good health well-being. Social support, self-esteem resilience have focus several studies this scope, having associated with better outcomes lower suicidal behaviors. Objectives: With study, our objectives are assess importance in protecting behavior, determine differences between countries residence, levels association variables, as well determining effect sociodemographic country predicting behavior. Method: In study participated 1006 citizens Community Portuguese Language Countries (CPLC), 18 80 years age (mean = 41.76; SD 14.19). 40.7% participants lived Brazil, 29.9% ACPOL 29.4% were from Portugal. For we included a questionnaire that asked about participants’ age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, professional status, educational attainment, socioeconomic status marital status. To identify presence psychological symptoms (depression, anxiety, or somatization) thus measure utilized Brief Symptom Inventory-18 (BSI-18). Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire – Revised (SBQ-R). check for support (family, friends significant others), version Multidimensional Scale Perceived Support (MSPSS) was utilized. self-esteem, Rosenberg Self-Esteem (RSES). resilience, Conner-Davidson Resilience Scale–10 (CD-RISC-10). A website created purpose investigation, disseminate online through mailing lists media, May October 2021, using convenience sample method. Results: The results showed statistically CPLC negatively correlated added predictors both Conclusion: We concluded that, previously shown studies, all constitute protective Self-esteem took an especially relevant role, possibly due its moderating life outcomes, less prevalence symptomatology general well-being, since strong sense is also linked locus control higher personal resources handle adversity.