The science of child and adolescent mental health in Brazil: a nationwide systematic review and compendium of evidence-based resources

Brazil is home to 50 million children and adolescents, whose mental health needs require context-sensitive research. A new review of nearly 1,200 Brazilian studies, conducted and published by the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Initiative, reveals that up to 1 in 5 children aged 7-14 may have a mental disorder, with rising self-harm and violence reports among adolescents, especially affecting Black and Indigenous youth. Despite many screening tools and programs, few are culturally adapted or proven effective. We call for scalable, community-based solutions that address racism, violence, and inequality.