PSYCHIATRIC REPERCUSSIONS OF BRUMADINHO'S ANNOUNCED CATASTROPHE: THE COMPLEXITY OF DIFFUSE AND INDIVIDUAL ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGES. Thais Mercadante Neves

Abstract

On January 25, 2019, in the municipality of Brumadinho, State of MinasGerais, the Córrego do Feijão mine dam ruptured, the occasion when the mud sweptthrough the local community as well as part of Vale S.A.'s administrative center. Thetragedy caused hundreds of deaths, incalculable damage to flora, fauna, soil, air, andwater, and it is not known how long it will take to recover the affected environment. Itis known that in the mud vestige new deleterious health situations will come, such asrespiratory, dermatological, gastrointestinal diseases, and so on, due to contact withthe toxic material brought by the tailings. And it could not be forgotten that the loss ofpeople and places of reference can cause negative reflections on the mental health of individuals, resulting in the appearance of psychiatric illnesses, such as depression,which usually show up months after the occurrence of the harmful event. Addressingthe material and moral damages resulting from the disaster, but enhancing thepsychological damage suffered by the victims, it constitutes the main objective of this work.