Over the last decade, Brazil’s politics have hardened into one of the most bitter divides in its history. What began as partisan clashes in elections and institutions has spilled into people’s homes, workplaces, schools, and even church pews. Political identity now cuts across everyday relationships, leaving dinner tables divided and friendships lost. The result is a climate of suspicion and hostility that is taking a toll not just on democracy but on the mental health of millions. What is happening in Brazil is not simply a political dispute but a public health crisis with profound consequences for human dignity and social life.
The breakdown of trust
Disagreement in a democracy is natural, even healthy. But polarisation is something else: it turns opponents into enemies. When political differences are framed not as arguments but as moral failings, the psychological impact is deep. Families fracture over voting choices, colleagues eye one another with suspicion, and social networks collapse into bitterness. The bonds of trust and reciprocity that support mental health are eroded. Freud once argued that societies need ways to sublimate conflict into debate and compromise. When that fails, aggression seeps into daily life, leaving behind anxiety, depression, and loneliness.
Living under siege
Many Brazilians now live with a constant sense of existential threat. On the Left, people fear authoritarian regression and the dismantling of hard-won rights. On the Right, fears revolve around corruption, moral decline, and state overreach. Both sides feel cornered, as if their way of life is under attack. This siege mentality is not abstract. Psychiatric studies show that chronic feelings of threat activate the brain’s fear circuits, leading to insomnia, poor concentration, and burnout. In cities like São Paulo or Rio de Janeiro, where poverty and insecurity already weigh heavily on people’s minds, the added pressure of political anxiety compounds the crisis.
Social media and the spread of hostility
The digital landscape has poured fuel on this fire. Platforms that once promised to democratise information now reinforce tribal divisions. Algorithms push outrage to the top of the feed, surrounding users with content that confirms their worst assumptions about the other side. For many Brazilians, scrolling through social media feels less like catching up on the news and more like enduring a barrage of hostility. Psychologists note that this constant exposure to anger and scorn increases rates of depression and social withdrawal. What happens online does not stay online. The emotional contagion spills over into daily interactions, deepening fractures in families, schools, and workplaces.
Losing sight of our shared humanity
The damage is not only psychological but ethical. Philosophers such as Emmanuel Levinas have argued that recognising another person as fully human comes before any political difference. Yet in Brazil, political allegiance often comes first, and humanity second. When people reduce others to their ideologies, empathy collapses. Hannah Arendt warned that a world without plurality, where only one voice is allowed, amounts to violence against humanity itself. In Brazil, the refusal to accept difference shows up not just in politics but in everyday acts of hostility, which leave scars on both individuals and communities.
Democracy and its psychological mirror
The erosion of relationships in Brazil reflects the fragility of its democratic institutions. Democracy depends on tolerance, compromise, and dialogue. When those break down, politics becomes a zero-sum game. On a psychological level, citizens internalise this hostility. They trust less, cooperate less, and grow more cynical. Social capital weakens, and the loneliness of political fracture sets in. The damage is felt in workplaces and universities too, where collaboration falters because ideological suspicion poisons collective efforts. Polarisation is not just a strain on politics, it is a structural stressor weighing heavily on people’s mental health.
Mental health as a right
Mental health is recognised internationally as a basic human right. Yet when the political environment itself fuels stress, anxiety, and depression, that right is compromised. In Brazil, polarisation is stoked by the very political actors who should be protecting citizens. On top of that, cultural stigma keeps many from seeking help. Those who suffer hesitate to pursue therapy out of fear of judgement, leaving cycles of untreated pain. The right to health, in practice, is silenced by both politics and culture.
Steps towards reconciliation
Rebuilding Brazil’s psychic and social fabric will not be easy. What is needed is not uniformity of thought but recognition of plurality as a strength. Schools and civic programmes should teach the value of dialogue and empathy, preparing citizens to disagree without dehumanising. Public investment in community-based mental health services is essential, especially for those outside elite urban centres. Civil society, including religious leaders, intellectuals, and community organisers, must model compassion and moderation. Even regulation of digital platforms may help by curbing the amplification of outrage and creating spaces for constructive exchange. None of these measures will end polarisation, but they can soften its impact and help rebuild trust.
Brazil today is a vivid example of how political division can devastate the psyche of a nation. When political allegiance becomes the measure of human worth, hostility corrodes both personal well-being and the social fabric. Philosophy reminds us that our shared humanity comes first, and psychology warns us of the damage isolation and distrust can inflict. Addressing Brazil’s crisis requires more than political reform. It calls for a cultural shift towards reconciliation, empathy, and pluralism as the foundation of collective life.
Marcelo Henrique de Carvalho, PhD, is a Brazilian lawyer and professor recognised for his work in human rights and public ethics. He combines legal expertise with journalism to influence debates on justice and democracy.