The Brazilian Ministry of Health launched a psychological telehealth service for women facing gender-based violence and mothers of children with neurodevelopmental disorders or rare diseases on Monday, August 24, 2026.
The initiative, unveiled in Brasília alongside First Lady Rosângela Lula da Silva, known as Janja, and Health Minister Alexandre Padilha, aims to provide confidential mental health support through the Unified Health System, known as SUS. According to government officials, the platform is designed to serve as both an immediate resource and an entry point into the broader Psychosocial Care Network.
Accessing the Platform and Service Structure
Patients can access the new mental health option by logging into the Meu SUS Digital application using a standard gov.br account. Users navigate to the miniapps section, select the Acolhe Mais
tool, and complete a registration form on the platform managed by the Brazilian Agency for SUS Management, referred to as AgSUS.
The program operates Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 20 p.m., and on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 14 p.m. Each registered user receives up to 10 sessions with female psychologists, with the option to initiate a new cycle of care when necessary. After completing the sessions, patients may be referred to local Psychosocial Care Centers or other regional health facilities for continued treatment.
The system distinguishes between different categories of need during initial triage. In the case of violence, the first contact will be used to evaluate possible risks, the support network, and the main demands of the woman, according to official service guidelines detailed by the Ministry of Health.
Expanding Scope to Cover Caregivers and Rising Demand
In addition to victims of violence, the program explicitly covers female family members—including mothers, grandmothers, aunts, and sisters—who act as primary caregivers for individuals with developmental disorders, disabilities, or rare diseases.
The emotional and psychological part was one of the most difficult of my life, when I precise to denounce the violence and face a process. For this reason, the opportunity that women will have, starting today, to receive humanized care, in a more modern way, is something wonderful. Luiza Brunet, activist and model, via gov.br
During the opening ceremony, the first lady reflected on the necessity of such public health interventions while expressing regret that specialized programs remain required to protect women within their own homes.
We could be investing in other things. We have in the SUS the dental reconstruction program for women victims of violence. It is important, but it does not make me happy. […] But we need this. In the name of women, I thank you. Rosângela Lula da Silva, First Lady, via metropoles.com
Political Context and Immediate Next Steps
The rollout follows a pilot phase initiated in March across Recife and Rio de Janeiro.
Minister Padilha noted that public safety and women’s protections are expected to feature prominently in upcoming legislative and electoral debates.
