Tech Roundup: Moving the needle of in-company mental health

Welcome to our Tech Roundup, where we bring you the biggest stories in technology and innovation in Brazil and Latin America. This week: How technology can help companies cross-reference data and get an accurate picture of their employees’ health

Are Brazilian companies taking care of their employees’ mental health?

Approved by the Senate in February, Law 14,831/2024, which creates the Mental Health Promoting Company Certificate, came into force in April. The idea is that companies will receive certification if they adopt criteria to promote their employees’ mental health and well-being.

What it says. By law, the certificate will be granted by a commission appointed by the federal government, which will be responsible for analyzing the companies’ practices.

• The initiative is voluntary, meaning interested companies must apply in order to be evaluated and certified.
• Among the guidelines are implementing programs to promote mental health in the workplace and combating discrimination and harassment in all its forms.
• The certificate will be valid for two years.
• An inter-ministerial working group is still to define the specific procedures for granting, reviewing, and renewing the certificate. The group was given 180 days after the law’s enactment, meaning it now has four months to complete the task.
• The Human Rights and Citizenship Ministry will give final approval for the regulation, which may involve more time for analysis.

Why it matters. The frequency of sick leave due to mental health complaints has increased year after year in Brazil. In 2023, mental health sick leave was granted to more than 288,000 people, according to data from the Social Security Ministry, up 38 percent from the previous year. The highest prevalence was combined depression and anxiety disorder, with temporary or permanent leave granted to more than 28,000 people.

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