Protocol for a qualitative study on the understanding of the impact of climate change on mental health with Brazilian National Congress politicians

Climate change has been the subject of sustained discussion in social and political debate for several years, with increasing evidence linking climate change and its associations with a wide range of physical and mental health outcomes (1,2). These impacts represent a substantial public health challenge in many countries, including Brazil (3). At the same time, political institutions have been slow and selective in recognising these impacts. Analyses of UK parliamentary debates and wider policy frameworks find that links between climate change and mental health are mentioned only infrequently, often narrowed to flooding and short-term distress. At the same time, broader issues such as heat-related suicides, chronic anxiety and youth eco-distress are largely absent (4,5). Reviews of national climate policies and Nationally Determined Contributions similarly show that most governments prioritise physical health impacts, with mental health either under-specified or ignored, leaving vulnerable groups such as children, people in poverty and those with pre-existing mental illness conditions without targeted support (6,7,8). In Brazil, the national legislature is the National Congress, which operates in a bicameral system composed of the Federal Senate and the Chamber of Deputies and is responsible for federal legislative management (9,10). Through the budget process and its interaction with the Federal Court of Accounts (Tribunal de Contas da União, TCU), Congress exercises budgetary control and oversight over the use of federal public resources, including by federal agencies and public administration bodies (11, 12, 13, 14). Climate Change and particularly its implications for mental health may not have received sustained political attention in recent years. To assess and understand the extension to which Brazilians legislators engage with this topic, we will conduct a quantitative thematic analysis of the Brazilian National Congress database. This analysis will identify the predominant themes in congressional speeches related to the mental health impacts of climate change. In addition, we will examine policy proposals discussed within the National Congress that aim to mitigate the mental health consequences of climate change in Brazil. With the results, we aim to provide insights into where connections have been made and where they are lacking, as well as to inform awareness-raising efforts and ultimately equip policymakers to protect Brazil from the increasingly significant effects of climate change on mental health.