The Intersection between Inclusive Education and Mental Health from Comparative Perspectives in Colombia, Panama, and Mexico

Resumen

This article analyzed inclusive education policies and their links to mental health in Colombia, Panama, and Mexico, with the aim of identifying the progress, obstacles, and challenges of educational policy implementation. The research was based on a comparative qualitative approach in an exploratory-descriptive design, considering the analysis of public policies and official documents. To this end, a documentary review technique was adopted: laws, educational policies, and other documents, national mental health programs, and other key documents on inclusive education and mental health in the three countries. The results indicate that all three countries have attempted to formulate inclusive policies, with an emphasis on training. However, the limited and poorly distributed nature of training (especially in rural contexts) prevents full inclusion. In some cases, the absence of regulations and a lack of political will for their implementation; furthermore, the limited evaluation of public policies formulated is also limited. The need to strengthen collaboration between institutions and provide teachers with ongoing training and sufficient resources was highlighted in the conclusions. Deficiencies in evaluation and monitoring systems were also mentioned, and improvements were recommended to ensure that implemented policies and programs pursue the goal of inclusive, quality education for all students.