GENDER EQUITY AND WOMEN'S QUALITY OF LIFE IN BRAZIL: AN ANALYSIS OF MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES

Abstract

This study analyzes the effectiveness of Brazilian public policies aimed at gender equality and their impacts on women's mental health, revealing a paradoxical scenario. Although the country has one of the most advanced legal frameworks in Latin America - notably the Maria da Penha Law and the PNAISM -, indicators of violence against women remain alarming, as evidenced by data from the Atlas of Violence (2025) and the Brazilian Public Security Forum (2024). Research shows that victims of domestic violence are up to 9.7 times more likely to develop depression (RIBEIRO et al., 2009), with aggravating factors for black and peripheral women, who face additional barriers in accessing specialized services. The analysis reveals that the main obstacles lie in the implementation of policies, marked by discontinuities, lack of intersectoral coordination and lack of resources. While initiatives such as CRAMs and DEAMs represent progress, their effectiveness is compromised by insufficient professional training and unequal coverage across the country. As Akotirene (2018) points out, overcoming these challenges requires intersectional approaches that consider the multiple forms of oppression. The study concludes that promoting gender equality requires not only institutional improvements, but also a profound cultural transformation. Investments in education, strengthening protection networks and systematic monitoring of policies emerge as fundamental strategies. The effective guarantee of women's rights is thus configured not only as an ethical imperative, but as an indispensable condition for national development, requiring collective commitment and continued actions.