Statement by the delegation of Brazil in the Security Council debate on Access to Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Conflict, Post-conflict and Humanitarian Settings - 25 March 2022

United Nations Security Council 

Formula Arria Meeting: “Ensuring access to Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Conflict, Post-conflict and Humanitarian Settings”  

ECOSOC Chamber, 25 March 2022 

Statement by the Delegation of Brazil

Thank you, [Madame/Mr.] President.

I would also like to thank Mexico for organizing this timely debate.

-The impact of armed conflicts and humanitarian crises on mental health is often neglected. peacekeepers, who operate in extremely challenging environments, also face important mental health challenges.

-Children are especially susceptible to overlapping vulnerabilities and risks in such settings, particularly in the case of unaccompanied or separated minors. They demand an even more sensitive approach considering that significant stress over long periods harms their development and increases the risk that they will have long-term physical and/or mental health conditions.

-With the economic impact of the Covid-19 and the large number of ongoing conflicts and humanitarian crises competing for limited international resources, mental health issues risk being left aside as less urgent matters. Not to mention that conflict itself severely hampers the provision of health care, leaving many people who need to rely on regular mental health services without adequate treatment or support.

-It is high time to put mental and physical health on an equal footing. Brazil would like to highlight some strategies that could strengthen mental health and psychosocial protection overreach during conflict, post-conflict and humanitarian settings:

-Stronger commitment to Universal Health Coverage. Better equipped and prepared national health systems are more resilient during crises and, with the support of the international community, can sustain core public health capacities during emergencies. In Brazil, the public health system guarantees universal and free access to mental health services to all, including refugees and asylum seekers.

-Closer cooperation among governments, UN Agencies and civil society in order to reach persons in vulnerable situation and to build resilience within the community. In the context of the response to the Venezuelan refugee crisis in Brazil, IOM and civil society have promoted a series of initiatives aimed at reducing psychosocial vulnerabilities, developing resilience and promoting community participation. These activities, in addition to having a preventive character in terms of mental health, favor the local  Integration of the refugee and migrant population.

- Peacekeepers should have access to adequate mental health services before, during and after their deployment. in this sense, brazil welcomes the development of a mental health strategy for uniformed peacekeepers by the un secretariat. We encourage troop and police-contributing countries as well as the UN secretariat to raise the profile of mental health challenges faced by uniformed peacekeepers and work jointly to prevent and deal with mental health effects on uniformed personnel in peace operations. Brazil is proud to have actively contributed to the post-traumatic stress disorder project, conducted by the UN secretariat.

-Last but not least, we draw the attention to the impact of sexual violence in conflict, a serious crime affecting women and girls primarily, but also men and boys. Available evidence on the psychological impact of sexual violence suggests that it is often life-long, and even inter-generational.