Brazil Advances Institutional Care Policies with Judicial Survey and São Paulo Mental Health Law Proposal

Brazil is taking significant steps to advance care policies both within its judiciary and state health sectors. The National Justice Council (CNJ) has launched a comprehensive survey aimed at supporting a new Care Policy for the Judiciary. Meanwhile, in São Paulo, State Deputy Ortiz Junior has submitted a legislative proposal to establish a robust State Mental Health Policy.

The CNJ’s survey, distributed to all Brazilian courts and judicial bodies, seeks to map governance structures, budgeting, and challenges related to care within the judiciary. Each court must submit a single response by March 23 as part of efforts led by the Care Working Group (GT de Cuidados), created in October 2025. This initiative aligns with Law No. 15.069/2024 on the National Care Policy and international human rights standards recognizing care as an autonomous right. The GT’s approach follows the United Nations framework of recognizing, reducing, and redistributing care responsibilities, aiming to foster equity and well-being across the judicial system. The survey is supported by the Plural Justice Program, a CNJ-UNDP partnership.

Concurrently, Ortíz Junior’s Law Project No. 115/2026, introduced to the São Paulo Legislative Assembly, seeks to strengthen the Psychosocial Care Network (RAPS) statewide. Developed after a year of research and consultations with experts such as Dr. Paulo Rossi Menezes, the project focuses on community-based, individualized mental health treatment plans. It prioritizes integrating primary care, Psychosocial Care Centers (CAPS), residential care, and psychiatric hospital services. Dr. Paulo described Brazil’s mental health crisis as a 'pandemic,' particularly highlighting anxiety and depression disorders. The proposal also promotes digital tools like telehealth to enhance care accessibility and network coordination. The legislative framework assigns clear responsibilities to the State Health Department for ongoing technical support, training, service expansion, surveillance, and stigma reduction campaigns.

Together, these initiatives mark coordinated efforts across Brazil to institutionalize care policies—addressing social co-responsibility and mental health as fundamental public concerns. The CNJ’s survey will inform institutional judicial policy development, while São Paulo’s mental health legislation aims for implementation within six months after approval. Both efforts underscore a growing recognition of care as a human right and state obligation in Brazil.