Month for mental health awareness

January 2022, study conducted by Trocando Fraldas with more than 7,500 women between January 17 and 24, 2022: Created in 2014, White January aims to draw society’s attention to issues related to people’s mental and emotional health and to raise awareness that, just like the body, the mind also needs to be cared for.

The month of January was chosen to address this topic because, being the first month of the year, people are more likely to reflect on their lives, social relationships, and to focus on resolutions and goals for the year. Of great importance, throughout this month, numerous awareness campaigns take place across the country.

It is necessary to pay attention to mental health, as revealed in our most recent study, 54% of Brazilian women suffer or have suffered from anxiety, 24% from ongoing stress, and 17% from depression.

Anxiety mainly affects younger women, between 18 and 24 years old, with 58% of participants, and those who are trying to conceive, with 57% of them. The same goes for ongoing stress, affecting 26% of these women. Depression, on the other hand, impacts mostly women aged 45 to 49, with 25% of respondents, and those aged 50 or above, with 21%. Men also suffer from anxiety, 34%, and depression, 21%.

Have you ever suffered or do you suffer from any of the following
mental health problems?

Professional help

Besides the high percentages of people suffering from mental health problems, the percentage of those who know someone with these issues is also high. 44% of respondents have a relative or friend with mental health problems. Especially women aged 50 or older, with 66% of them.

And although White January plays an important role in raising awareness, it’s essential that people with these issues seek appropriate professional help. According to our findings, 60% of women know what type of professional help to seek in case of mental health problems.

Did you know or would you know how to seek the appropriate
professional help for mental health issues?

  • 58% of women aged 18 to 24 know what kind of help to look for in case of mental health issues.
  • Women aged 50 or older are those who know best how to seek the necessary professional help, with 84% of participants.
  • In São Paulo and Santa Catarina, 65% of the population knows what kind of professional help is required in these situations.
  • In Rio de Janeiro the rate drops to 59%, and in Acre to 38%.

A public health issue

According to WHO – World Health Organization, the prevalence of depression in primary healthcare settings is 10.4%, either alone or associated with a physical disorder. And this increase is also being noticed by the population, especially the older population. 59% of women perceive that mental health problems have increased in their surroundings in recent years. Among these, younger women do not perceive this evolution as much as women aged 40 and over.

  • Roraima is the state where the largest number of women noticed this, with 75% of participants.
  • In Minas Gerais and the Federal District, at least 63% of respondents have this awareness.
  • In Rio de Janeiro and Paraná, the rate is 61%.
  • The state with the lowest percentage of participants noticing this rise in mental health issues is Amapá, with 47% of the population.

Rate of Brazilian women who suffer or have suffered some
mental health problem, by state

Ranking of states where Brazilian women know someone with some
mental health problem

  • 1.Minas Gerais
  • 2.Rio Grande do Sul
  • 3.Rondônia
  • 4.Paraná
  • 5.Rio Grande do Norte
  • 6.Bahia
  • 7.Piauí
  • 8.Paraíba
  • 9.Pernambuco
  • 10.Goiás
  • 11.Espírito Santo
  • 12.Sergipe
  • 13.Santa Catarina
  • 14.Rio de Janeiro
  • 15.Mato Grosso
  • 16.São Paulo
  • 17.Mato Grosso do Sul
  • 18.Maranhão
  • 19.Alagoas
  • 20.Tocantins
  • 21.Amapá
  • 22.Ceará
  • 23.Federal District
  • 24.Pará
  • 25.Roraima
  • 26.Amazonas
  • 27.Acre

Research Method

The study had national coverage and was carried out with more than 7,500 women between January 17 and 24, 2022. The data collection method was through an online questionnaire.

The following questions were addressed:

  • 1. Have you ever suffered or do you currently suffer from any of the following mental health problems?
  • 2. Do you know any family member or friend currently suffering from any of the problems mentioned?
  • 3. Did you know or would you know how to seek the appropriate professional help for mental health problems?
  • 4. Do you think that mental health problems have increased in your surroundings lately?

To compare the results between regions and states, affirmative answers were counted as 1 for “yes” and 0 for “no.” Some questions, aimed at obtaining more qualitative results, were designed with more options.