Human Development in Latin America: An Epistemological and Contextual Analysis of Mental Health and Social Inequalities

Abstract

Arger Bundestappen Nanz, Javier Carreon Guillen, Salvador Alvarado Garibaldi, Arturo Sanchez, Miguel Bautista Miranda, Tania Soto Ramirez, Oscar Igor Carreon Valencia and Maria Norma Torres Romero

Human development in Latin America has been historically shaped by structural inequalities, cultural transformations, and persistent mental health challenges. This paper analyzes the epistemological genealogy of human development within the region, highlighting its intersections with anxiety and depression. Using a qualitative design supported by critical epistemology and triangulation of interviews, the study examines how structural inequities and governance processes condition human well-being. The results reveal that human development discourse remains deeply entangled with psychosocial vulnerabilities, while community-based interventions appear as key mechanisms for resilience. The findings suggest that sustainable development in Latin America requires the integration of mental health policies into broader social and economic frameworks.

PDF