The seminar was a space for listening, welcoming and collective strengthening, where life stories, challenges and Dreams were shared between generations.
In the midst of the difficulties facing the rainy season, roads full of mud in the ploughed Raposa Indigenous Land Serra do Sol, young people from different regions of Roraima and representatives of other states of Brazil and partners gathered in the Camará indigenous community, in the Baixo Cotingo region, to reflect on an increasingly urgent theme: the mental health of indigenous youth.
Held by the Youth Department Indigenous Gabriel Ferreira Rodrigues, from the Indigenous Council of Roraima (CIR), the II State Seminar on Mental Health and Good Living of Indigenous Youth took place between May 28 and June 1, 2026, bringing together leaders Traditional, youth, children, indigenous professionals, partners and supporters around the theme "Overcoming My Fears, Healing My Pains".
The meeting brought together approximately 250 young people from different peoples to strengthen the networks of care, identity and good living. The seminar was a space for listening, welcoming and collective strengthening, where life stories, challenges and dreams were shared between generations.
Highlighting the indigenous collectivity, the The event began with traditional songs and dances made by students and communities of the Camará hub in the Baixo Cotingo Region.
The program was welcomed made by the youth coordinator of the Baixo Cotingo region and the Tuxaua of the Camará community to all participants present, with the historic moment of the delivery of the key to the house to the executive coordination of the CIR and to the department of Youth, who followed the agenda with the presentations of the coordinators of youths and the regions present.
The seminar was attended by leaders young people and children from the regions: Serras, Surumu, Amajarí, Raposa, Tabaio, Itacutú, Serra da Lua, Alto Cauamé, Murupú, Baixo Cotingo, partners and guests present: Executive Coordination of CIR, UNICEF, COIAB, DSEI – East RR, Diocese of Roraima, FUNAI, Regional Council of Psychology – 20th Region/AM, RR (CRP 20) and José Luiz SETUBAL Foundation,
On the panel on mental health at indigenous youth, and debate on challenges faced in the territories, coordinators regional youth representatives and representatives of the regions, reported the difficulties and the lack of support from leaders and family members, for a better reception of youth within families, communities and regions.
Participating for the first time in the Seminar on Mental Health and Good Living of Youth, the young Solianny Almeida, of the Canavial indigenous community, highlighted the importance of spaces for Welcoming young people who face emotional difficulties and, many sometimes, they do not find anyone to talk to in their communities.
"In the community where I live there are many difficulties, especially in relation to transport and support for that the youth participate in these meetings. When young people have the opportunity to be together with other young people, to get to know other realities and exchange experiences, they feel motivated. But many end up being left out. Being here is very important, because many young people go through difficulties and they can't find people to express what they're feeling. During the seminar, I saw young people who were able to talk about their problems and felt welcomed by the group. That made me very happy. I wish more young people of my community were here to also feel welcomed, because it is this is what our youth often lacks", reported Solianny Almeida.
To the Deputy Tuxaua General of the Council Indigenous of Roraima (CIR), Paulo Justino, the seminar represents a space fundamental to build alternatives in the face of the challenges faced by the indigenous youth in the territories.
"This work has been developed for more than two years, due to a serious situation that has been happening within the regions. Mental imbalance and lack of assistance from public policies have caused serious problems for us, with young people committing suicide, women and even entire families being affected. Therefore, we are here with the objective of seeking collective solutions, strengthening youth and the movement to overcome this process that we are facing together", highlighted the vice-tuxaua general of the CIR, Paulo Justino.
The coordinator of the Department of Gabriel Ferreira Rodrigues Indigenous Youth, Raquel Wapichana, stressed that The main objective of the meeting is to awaken dreams, strengthen lives and to train young multipliers within the communities.
"From this seminar, many young people began to awaken dreams. And that is the goal: to reach lives, to save lives and awaken dreams. We want young people to leave here with a vision of future, who can become psychologists, lawyers, teachers, leaders and continue to strengthen our struggle within the territories. We also want they are multipliers of this knowledge, taking it to their communities information that helps to cope with problems such as depression, anxiety and suicide", said Raquel Wapichana.
During the debates on the prevention of suicide, mental health and care networks, young people were able to dialogue directly with psychologists, researchers and representatives of partner institutions.
Mental health and spirituality walk Joints
One of the speakers was the psychologist Marijane dos Santos, from the Tumbalalá people, Bahia. Coordinator of Indigenous Youth of Bahia (COJIBA) and Master in Social Anthropology, she shared her own trajectory of emotional coping during the graduation.
When talking about the challenges experienced by the indigenous youth, Marijane highlighted that mental health and spirituality do not can be treated separately.
"Our mental health, when it doesn't Okay, it directly interferes with our spiritual health. And our health spiritual too, when we don't take care of it, it ends up interfering directly on our mental health", he said.
She also recalled a difficult time during the completion of his Psychology course.
"I needed to talk about mental health and spirituality, but I realized that I wasn't taking care of my own spirituality. That's when I understood that I also needed to seek help."
Marijane also highlighted that the problems faced by the indigenous youth of Bahia dialogue with the realities experienced by the peoples of Roraima, especially the impacts of territorial violence, the lack of opportunities and climate change.
"Before, it was our leaders who spoke for us. Today we are the ones who speak for us. This is a conquest of indigenous youth."
The protagonism of youth
Indigenous journalist Ariene Susui, from Wapichana people, currently residing in Manaus, moved the participants by remember his own journey within the indigenous movement.
She said that she participated in the first youth assemblies when he was only 15 years old and who found in these spaces the opportunity to build their professional and political path.
"I am the result of an assembly of the youth. One day I was sitting where you are today."
Ariene reinforced the importance of participation of young women in decision-making spaces.
"They often say that girls don't they may be in the movement, but we also have the capacity to lead, to coordinate and build change."
By encouraging participants to believing in her dreams, she highlighted:
"We, indigenous youth, are not the tomorrow. We are today."
For her, each young person present has already represents leadership in formation.
"Who knows, maybe here is the next one deputy, the next teacher, the next lawyer or even the first senator indigenous people from Roraima?"
Art, culture and good living
Representing Amazonas, the stylist indigenous Maurício Duarte, from the Kaixana people, brought a reflection on the relationship between art, culture and mental health.
According to him, activities such as handicrafts, Graphics and fashion are also tools for care and emotional strengthening.
"Making art is an occupational therapy. Many times we don't realize why this is part of our routine, but it is a way to take care of the mind and spirit."
Maurício recalled the experiences lived alongside her mother at craft fairs and highlighted how these experiences shaped her professional trajectory.
"Fashion was a place that saved me. When I teach what I know how to do and realize that it can transform life of someone, I understand myself as a transforming agent."
For him, dialogue continues to be a of the main tools to address youth challenges.
"The more we open up and seek support, less space we leave for suffering to occupy ours alone life."
Listening to transform
During the panel on drug prevention, suicide and care networks, representatives of partner organizations reinforced the need to listen to young people before building policies public.
Indigenous anthropologist Arancha Wapichana, member of the organization Vida e Juventude, highlighted that the records of the experiences shared during the seminar will be transformed into documents that may support future actions aimed at indigenous peoples.
"What you say is also data important. We take this information to make sure you're ears."
She also recalled that many young people demand more participatory methodologies.
"The young people said to us: we are tired of lectures. We want practice, we want to participate in the construction of the solutions."
According to her, active listening can save lives.
"Sometimes we don't have anything to say. But just listening to someone is already a form of care."
Building collective paths
Over the three days of programming, The participants also held conversation circles, thematic workshops, presentations of working groups aimed at the construction of proposals for strengthen public policies for mental health and well-being of youth indigenous.
Between indigenous communication, graphics, songs and dances, handicrafts, the protagonism of youth and life stories, the Young people reaffirmed that mental health care involves strengthening of culture, spirituality, identity and territories.
The seminar ended with the construction of the recommendations booklet and the final letter of the meeting, a document that should guide future actions of the indigenous youth movement and institutions partners.
In the end, it was clear that youth Indigenous people are not just discussing mental health. They are building paths to continue existing, resisting and dreaming.
Because, as one of the Speakers during the meeting:
"Today we are the ones who speak for us same."
The realization of the II Health Seminar Mental and Good Living of Youth was supported by partners Niatero, UNICEF (Fund for the Mental and Good Living of Youth). of the United Nations Children's Foundation), National Foundation of Indigenous Peoples (FUNAI), José Luiz Setúbal Foundation and Coordination of Indigenous Organizations of the Amazon (COIAB).