Perspectives on Medical Education in Paraguay: Time Management, Mental Health, and Self-Awareness Strategies for Brazilian Students

Medical training is a demanding process that challenges students both academically and personally. This article explores some of these challenges based on an interview conducted during the "Brazilians Beyond Borders: The Journey of Medical Training in Paraguay" Congress in 2024. Eduardo Paglioni interviewed clinical psychoanalyst and medical student Kelton Oliveira, who shared his perspectives on crucial topics such as time management, mental health, resilience, and self-awareness. The study identifies and analyzes the main challenges faced by Brazilian students who choose to study medicine abroad, particularly in Paraguay, highlighting the importance of an integrated approach that encompasses both technical competence and emotional and psychological well-being. Kelton Oliveira emphasizes the need for effective time management strategies to avoid burnout, self-care practices to maintain balanced mental health, and the promotion of self-awareness to cope with the pressures of medical training. The methodology employed included the transcription and detailed qualitative analysis of the interview, contextualizing the challenges faced and extracting practical strategies to overcome them. To reinforce the importance of this topic, we also conducted a review of scientific publications that highlight the necessity and relevance of these issues for medical students. Although the analysis is based on a single interview, integrating information provided by other researchers in available scientific publications allows for correlating these contributions to obtain a broader and more comprehensive perspective. This provides a better understanding of the challenges faced by medical students in Paraguay and in other international contexts. This article aims to provide an in-depth analysis of the challenges faced by these students and present practical suggestions that can be applied to improve their academic performance and promote a healthy balance between their academic, personal, and professional lives.