A decade of the SABES-Grad study: History, methodology, and preliminary findings on mental health trends of Brazilian undergraduate students.

Abstract

Objective: To describe the development and methodology of the Health and Wellness of Undergraduate Students (SABES-Grad) project, and to present preliminary findings based on four waves of repeated cross-sectional surveys conducted over a ten-year period (2014/15-2024/25).

Methods: Four cross-sectional surveys on the mental health of undergraduates at the Federal University of Rio Grande (FURG) were conducted in 2014/15, 2018/19, 2020/21, and 2024/25. These surveys were based on independent samples using consistent methodology, enabling the analysis of temporal trends at the population level. In three editions, systematic clustered random sampling was used with in-person data collection. The 2020/21 edition, conducted online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was a multicenter study involving five universities across all regions of Brazil. Key topics investigated included generalized anxiety, social anxiety, major depression, suicide risk, perceived stress, and drug use.

Results: Data from 4,897 FURG students were analyzed (2014/15=1,423; 2018/19=996; 2020/21=1,437; 2024/25=1,041). Changes were observed in the student profile, including increased sexual diversity, intensified academic migration, and decreased family income. The prevalence of mental health outcomes increased over time, while drug use dropped sharply during the pandemic and remained low in 2024/25.

Conclusion: SABES-Grad is one of the longest-standing studies on the topic in Brazil, contributing to a deeper understanding of the challenges faced in higher education and to the training of dozens of professionals and researchers.