At least 10.7% of Brazilian prison officers were diagnosed with depression, according to a survey carried out with 22,700 professionals in the field between 2022 and 2024 across the country.
Other data related to mental health released this week by the National Secretariat for Penal Policies (Senappen), of the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, show, for example, that 20.6% said they had an anxiety disorder, in addition to 4.2% reporting panic disorder.
The data was organized in the research Scenarios of Physical and Mental Health of Employees of the Brazilian Penitentiary System, which was in partnership with the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz). According to the federal government, the more than 100,000 Brazilian prison employees play a strategic role in public security, although often invisible.
The research organizers recognize that the results highlight challenges experienced by employees, related to the intense pace of work and the emotional and physical demands of the activity.
However, the survey also shows that 15.9% of employees are “very satisfied” with their work, while 59.3% say they are “satisfied” with the activities carried out. At the same time, the majority (50.7%) understand that society rarely recognizes the value of work, while 33% “never” feel recognized.
Physical illnesses
In relation to physical illnesses, prison staff highlighted problems such as obesity (12.5% of staff), hypertension (18.1%) and orthopedic illnesses (12.3% of cases).
Given the numbers, the national secretary of Penal Policies, André Garcia, pointed out the urgent need for structured care policies for the category, according to what the federal government announced. He considers that these professionals support an essential structure for public safety and have had their needs ignored.
“Based on this diagnosis, we consolidated a commitment: to improve the actions already initiated, expand care and ensure that each employee has the necessary conditions to perform their role with dignity and quality”, stated the secretary in a note.
The director of Penitentiary Policies, Sandro Abel Sousa Barradas, assessed that it is necessary to implement care policies that directly impact the well-being, appreciation and performance of employees.
*Brazil Agency
