Partnerships between Parliament and Civil Society to Strengthen Mental Health Public Policies: The Brazilian Experience
1
Institute for Health Policy Studies (IEPS), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2
Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A3270
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT:
In a context of political polarization and institutional fragility, the Brazilian Legislative Branch brought together more than 200 deputies and senators (33%), from different parties and regions, in the Parliamentary Front for the Promotion of Mental Health, supported by an Advisory Council of 16 national mental health organizations. During its 2023–2026 legislature, the Front structured its work through the Mental Health Legislative Agenda to strengthen the Unified Health System (SUS), guided by principles aligned with Brazil’s Psychiatric Reform. The initiative innovated by publicly sharing collectively defined plans and goals and by appointing a specialized non-profit civil society organization as its executive secretariat.
METHODS:
The Legislative Agenda guides the work of the Executive Secretariat, responsible for coordinating parliamentarians around shared goals. In the first edition (2023–2024), priorities were collected from parliamentary offices and the Advisory Council, followed by the development of a legislative matrix. In the second edition (2025–2026), the matrix was updated, identifying 710 mental health-related bills in the National Congress, and a technical report was produced to inform decisions. Strategic areas—education, internet, work, and environment—were prioritized, leading to the selection of 23 bills for advocacy and the proposal of four new bills. Both editions were launched through public events with participation from users of the SUS Psychosocial Care Network.
RESULTS:
The updated matrix showed a 40% increase in mental health-related bills, with autism-related proposals accounting for 44% of those. In 2024, Federal Law 14819 established the National Psychosocial Care Policy in School Communities. In 2025, Federal Law 15211 created the Digital Statute of the Child and Adolescent, requiring digital platforms to remove content promoting self-harm/suicide, and self-diagnosis.
CONCLUSIONS:
The experience shows that structured partnerships between Parliament and Civil Society can strengthen mental health advocacy and the SUS, provided that shared principles are established and the Legislative Agenda remains dynamic.
In a context of political polarization and institutional fragility, the Brazilian Legislative Branch brought together more than 200 deputies and senators (33%), from different parties and regions, in the Parliamentary Front for the Promotion of Mental Health, supported by an Advisory Council of 16 national mental health organizations. During its 2023–2026 legislature, the Front structured its work through the Mental Health Legislative Agenda to strengthen the Unified Health System (SUS), guided by principles aligned with Brazil’s Psychiatric Reform. The initiative innovated by publicly sharing collectively defined plans and goals and by appointing a specialized non-profit civil society organization as its executive secretariat.
METHODS:
The Legislative Agenda guides the work of the Executive Secretariat, responsible for coordinating parliamentarians around shared goals. In the first edition (2023–2024), priorities were collected from parliamentary offices and the Advisory Council, followed by the development of a legislative matrix. In the second edition (2025–2026), the matrix was updated, identifying 710 mental health-related bills in the National Congress, and a technical report was produced to inform decisions. Strategic areas—education, internet, work, and environment—were prioritized, leading to the selection of 23 bills for advocacy and the proposal of four new bills. Both editions were launched through public events with participation from users of the SUS Psychosocial Care Network.
RESULTS:
The updated matrix showed a 40% increase in mental health-related bills, with autism-related proposals accounting for 44% of those. In 2024, Federal Law 14819 established the National Psychosocial Care Policy in School Communities. In 2025, Federal Law 15211 created the Digital Statute of the Child and Adolescent, requiring digital platforms to remove content promoting self-harm/suicide, and self-diagnosis.
CONCLUSIONS:
The experience shows that structured partnerships between Parliament and Civil Society can strengthen mental health advocacy and the SUS, provided that shared principles are established and the Legislative Agenda remains dynamic.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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