Brazil faces rising mental health crisis and work leaves

Brazil is facing a significant mental health crisis, characterized by a surge in anxiety, depression, and professional burnout. Data from the Ministry of Social Security indicates that in 2025, the country recorded between 534,000 and 546,000 work leaves due to mental and behavioral disorders. Anxiety remains a primary driver, accounting for a significant portion of these cases, including an 18% increase in specific anxiety-related leaves compared to 2024.

Several factors contribute to this epidemic, including financial insecurity, hyperproductivity culture, and social instability. Financial stress is particularly acute, with reports showing that 61% of Brazilians have no investments and many struggle with basic financial literacy. Additionally, physiological factors such as the gut-brain axis and dietary habits are being highlighted as contributors to emotional instability.

In response to the rising number of leaves, regulatory updates like NR-1, effective as of May 2026, now mandate that companies include the prevention of psychosocial risks—such as burnout and moral harassment—in their workplace safety protocols. Experts emphasize that addressing this crisis requires moving beyond individual treatment to include systemic changes in labor policies, social protection, and corporate culture.