Brazilian Consul Alessandro Warley Candeas has highlighted mental health issues such as depression and anxiety as the primary challenges facing Brazilian children in Portugal, rather than economic or linguistic problems. “It’s not an economic issue, employment, housing, or linguistic. The two main factors currently are the relative ignorance of Portuguese legislation and mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety,” he stated.
Candeas emphasized that these challenges are more prevalent among children, who experience them both at school and in their neighborhoods, rather than being predominantly parental issues. Acknowledging that Portugal traditionally is not a country of immigrants, the Consul expressed confidence that these problems can be resolved over time, due to the goodwill of Portuguese authorities and the Brazilian community’s willingness to adapt.
The Brazilian Consulate in Lisbon plans to assist by providing information and building bridges to close gaps of understanding. Today, a session is scheduled at the Espaço da Mulher Brasileira, located in the Consulate-General of Brazil in Lisbon, where guidance on Portuguese law concerning minors will be offered.
“Our consulate will commence efforts to clarify Portuguese legislation for parents and those concerned about issues related to child custody and such, known in Brazil as Conselhos Tutelares, and legislation regarding minors, because there are differences,” the ambassador noted.
The informative session is set for 3:30 PM, wherein the legal consultant from the Consulate-General will give explanations on the law protecting young people and children in Portugal. Questions and doubts can be addressed via this Instagram link.
Candeas expressed his hope that this initiative will reach thousands of Brazilians. “This agenda is very sensitive and delicate, garnering considerable attention in the media and within the Brazilian community, and it is a cause for concern,” he mentioned. His comments followed inquiries about the increasing cases of Brazilian children being separated from their parents due to reports by the Portuguese Commission for the Protection of Children and Youth (CPCJ), or experiencing violence in schools as young immigrants.
The Consul noted that there is a fear within the Brazilian community of a persistent increase in such cases. However, he downplayed these fears, attributing them to “a process of adaptation, perhaps from both sides—from those arriving, like the Brazilians, and those receiving, like the Portuguese.” He remained optimistic about finding solutions to the challenges faced.
“To achieve that, we need to connect leaders, entities, and individuals, understand cases better, learn about the legislation, institutional framework, and culture. By bringing the parties together, solutions can be proposed through this dynamic dialogue,” he concluded.
