Research indicates a link between social vulnerability and mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. January is dedicated to reflecting on mental health and public policy situations regarding the topic in Brazil. This initiative, known as White January, was started by a Brazilian psychologist and is gaining popularity among individuals, companies, and social organizations.
The topic is crucial because, according to the World Health Organization, Brazil has the highest number of anxious individuals globally, accounting for 9.3% of the population. Depression, eating disorders, bipolar disorder, and substance-related disorders also draw attention in the Brazilian reality.
Mental disorders affect not only those living with the conditions but society as a whole. These illnesses lead to losses in human capital, a reduction in qualified and educated labor, weakened health and global child development, workforce depletion, violence, crime, homelessness, poverty, premature death, vulnerable health, unemployment, and family expenses, to name a few.
Therefore, society as a whole must take action to improve mental health, especially considering a risk factor for the development of disorders: social vulnerability. Understand more below:
According to academic studies, feelings of insecurity, lack of hope, rapid social changes, violence risks, and health problems are factors explaining how social vulnerability is linked to the development of mental disorders.
Moreover, low education, poor housing conditions, low income, unemployment, and informal work are situations generating stress and can act as triggers for mental conditions.
This relationship is seen worldwide, but in Brazil, researchers observed that social vulnerability generates feelings of humiliation and inferiority, thoughts linked to depression and other disorders. The association of income distribution with homicides, violent crimes, deaths related to alcohol and drug use, for example, reinforces the concept that income inequalities have widespread effects on mental health.
In addition to specific public policies for mental health, such as the popularization of psychological and psychiatric support, it is necessary to combat the structural problem of social inequality in the country. For this, governments play a fundamental role with income distribution programs, improved access to education, and labor legislation.
However, that alone is not enough. Civil Society Organizations are essential for supporting people in social vulnerability, offering cultural, leisure, and sports options, for example.
Developed to provide psychological support to teenagers and young people in the Youth Apprentice program, the Se Cuida Jovem project, from the Ramacrisna Institute, began in 2018 and includes students aged 14 to 21 who attend the institute’s professional learning program.
The project is carried out in partnership with Puc Minas and Anhanguera universities, where psychology interns, under the supervision of their professors, provide individual or group sessions according to each student’s needs. In 2023, 85 students were assisted by the project.
The Ramacrisna Institute also offers vocational courses for better job market options, sports and educational activities for children aged 6 to 14 through the Ramacrisna Educational Support Center, Fablab, an innovation lab offering courses in educational robotics, computer science, programming, modeling and 3D printing, and artificial intelligence, along with various projects focused on sports.
In other words, for 64 years, the institute has been directly working to transform the lives of socially vulnerable people. More than 2 million services provided, bringing improvements not only to mental health but also to the comprehensive development of each beneficiary.
Your company can be part of this chain of good. Learn more about each project and contribute to transforming more lives.
