Support Groups in Brazil
Contact details for English-speaking support groups and meetings for AA (Alcoholics Anonymous), drug aid, cancer support meetings, AIDS and more...
While some of the support organizations and help lines listed below may have English-speaking staff and volunteers, there is no guarantee that English will be spoken.
- Alcohol Abuse
- Drug Abuse
- HIV/AIDS
- Smoking
- Cancer Support
- Mental Health
- Family Support
- Children's Support
- Elderly Support
- Women's Support
Alcohol Abuse
Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous (Alcoólicos Anônimos) in Brazil has a website (in Portuguese) that includes information on AA Brazil and local meetings. It is also possible to buy books and DVDs on the site.
Drug Abuse
The Brazilian Association Narcotics Anonymous (Narcóticos Anônimos) provides addicts with support groups and recovery programs.
They also have a help line for drug addicts and their families.
- Narcotics Anonymous Help Line
Tel: (11) 3101 9626
HIV/AIDS
- HIV/AIDS Infoline (Disque Saude)
Tel: 0800 162 550 (Monday to Friday 08:00-18:00)
email
The Brazilian Ministry of Health has a website with information about Brazil's national prevention program, living with HIV and AIDS and treatments available in Brazil.
- For the Ministry of Health STD-AIDS website: Click here
Brazil's social policies have enabled it to have one of the highest success rates among developing countries for confronting the AIDS problem. Among the initiatives undertaken by The Brazilian Ministry of Health is delivering 3.3 million HIV Fast Test Kits to Brazilian states in 2009. The object of the initiative is to expand early diagnosis of infection by the HIV virus. They can be requested at public and private hospitals and clinics.
Smoking Cessation Support
INCA is the body of the Brazilian Ministry of Health that coordinates the National Tobacco Control Program. This program is mainly funded by the Brazilian government. The specific objective is to reduce smoking initiation, particularly among the youth.
- For further information on the program provided by the Brazilian Government: Click here
- Stop-Smoking Help Line
Tel: 0800 611 997
Cancer Support
The Brazilian Ministry of Health Cancer Institute (Instituto Nacional de Câncer) campaigns for the prevention and cure of cancer in Brazil. Their programs are handled by CONPREV, Cancer Prevention and Surveillance Coordination Unit.
- Conprev
email - Brazilian Instituto Nacional de Câncer/INCA
At: Praça Cruz Vermelha 23, Centro 20230-130, Rio de Janeiro
Website - To find a specialized cancer clinic or hospital in Brazil: Click here (in Portuguese)
Mental Health
The Mental Health department of the Brazilian Ministry of Health makes therapeutic residences available, responsible for the integration of patients who have been in psychiatric hospitals. There are more than 470 therapeutic residences throughout Brazil.
Many walk-in public health clinics (Pronto Socorro) in Brazil have 24-hour emergency psychiatric services, which include support and counseling.
There are a number of organizations throughout Brazil that offer support and counseling.
Samaritans
The Samaritans offer crisis counseling over the telephone for those in need.
- Samaritans
Tel: 141
GASM (Grupo de Apoio em Saúde Mental) is a support group for people with mental health problems.
- GASM
Tel: (62) 3204 2565
ABRATA (Brazilian Association of Families and Friends of People With Mental Disorders) is an association for those suffering from depression as well as their families and friends.
AFDM (Brazilian Association of Mental Care Patients, Friends, and Family) was created to provide assistance to those suffering from mental illness.
- AFDM
Tel: (21) 2507 4558 / 2507 5830
ASTOC (Brazilian Association for Obsessive Compulsive Disorders) is for sufferers and families of Tourettes, and other neuropsychiatric disorders.
- ASTOC
Tel: (11) 3088 9198 / 3085 2978
Family Support
The Brazilian government makes teams of family health advisors available in public hospitals and clinics (Equipes de Saúde da Família). The teams are equipped with a family doctor, one nurse, a nursing auxiliary and six community health agents. These professionals are available for all aspects of family health and support.
The Associação Brasileira de Enfermagem em Saúde Coletiva e Família is an organization whose mission it is to provide information and advice on family health matters.
- Associação Brasileira de Enfermagem em Saúde Coletiva e Família
email
Children's Support
The Brazilian children and adolescents organization Centro de Referência, Estudos e Ações sobre Crianças e Adolescentes - CECRIA provides help and advice for children in need and can assist with legal matters and with contacting the relevant social services.
SOS Children is a non-profit organization working to care for orphans throughout the world.
- SOS Children (SOS Criança)
Tel: 1407
Elderly Support
Associação Brasileira de Alzheimer, Doenças Similares e Idosos de Alta Dependência/ABRAZ is an association providing help and support to those suffering from Alzheimers, other similar illnesses and to those who are highly dependent on support from others.
- ABRAZ (in Portuguese)
At: Rua Frei Caneca 915, CJ3, 01307-003 São Paulo
Tel: 0800 55 1906 (Monday to Friday 09:00-17:00)
Women's Support
The Delegacia de Defesa da Mulher is a support group for woman who have been victims of violence.
- Delegacia de Defesa da Mulher
Tel: (11) 3976 2908
The Brazilian government provides support centers (Delegacias Especializadas de Atendimento à Mulher - DEAM) for women who have been victims of any sort of crime.