Espiritualidade como fator de proteção à saúde mental do policial militar: uma revisão integrativa da literatura nacional e internacional

Abstract

The mental health of military police officers constitutes a growing challenge due to their continuous exposure to violence, high occupational stress, and intense emotional strain. In this context, spirituality has been highlighted as a relevant complementary resource for promoting psychological well-being. This study aimed to analyze scientific evidence regarding spirituality as a protective factor for the mental health of military police officers through an integrative review of national and international literature. This qualitative, descriptive, and exploratory research was conducted across databases including BVS, SciELO, LILACS, PubMed/MEDLINE, and Google Scholar, selecting full-text articles published between 2020 and 2025. The final sample consisted of 12 articles. The results demonstrated that spirituality is associated with the strengthening of resilience, hope, emotional self-regulation, and coping strategies when facing occupational adversity. Benefits were also identified regarding the reduction of anxiety, depression, psychological distress, and suicide risk, alongside the expansion of social support and quality of life. It is concluded that spirituality represents a relevant protective factor for the mental health of military police officers, and should be conceived as a complementary strategy to institutional policies for health promotion, psychological assistance, and professional appreciation.