Protest Blocks Central Belo Horizonte During National Antimanicomial Day

Overview

• Protesters linked to the antimanicomial movement blocked Avenida João Pinheiro in Belo Horizonte between Praça da Liberdade and the UFMG Law School, halting traffic in the city center.
• The action took place on Brazil’s National Day of the Antimanicomial Struggle, which promotes mental health care based on freedom, respect, and dignity.
• This year marks 25 years of Law 10.216, the Psychiatric Reform Law that moved care away from psychiatric hospitals and toward services in the community.
• Brazil’s Psychosocial Care Network replaces long-stay institutions with CAPS clinics, short‑term residential units, therapeutic housing, beds in general hospitals, and urgent care through SAMU and 24‑hour UPAs.
• The samba school Liberdade Ainda Que Tam Tam joined the Belo Horizonte march, using music and carnival to call attention to rights‑based mental health care.