The National Prevention Mechanism (MNP) monitors this reality through regular visits to places such as prisons, educational centers, and mental health units. For several years, the MNP has identified children and young people with significant mental health needs in educational centers. In 2022, half of the interned youths received mental health support, a proportion that exceeded 80% in some centers.
The recommendation to create a specific unit, the "Yellow House," near the Bela Vista Educational Center, has not yet been fully realized. The project has been redefined for stabilizing critical situations and awaits its opening. This lack of response also extends to the specialized care of children and young people within the promotion and protection system.
In 2025, five visited units housed 61 young people, ten with complex mental health conditions. Six individuals over 18 remained in care, five with severe mental illness. These structures cannot replace specialized clinical care, making it essential to strengthen coordination between Health and Social Security to ensure continuity of support.
The absence of adequate social responses sometimes leads to the use of judicial internment measures, with the status of special care units still to be regulated. In correctional facilities, the MNP has detected severe mental health problems, self-harm, and suicide attempts, exacerbated by overcrowding.
The MNP has also begun preparing a report on the conditions of liberty deprivation for individuals deemed not criminally responsible, expected to conclude by the end of 2026, focusing on internment and the protection of their rights. The Ombudsman emphasizes the importance of respecting dignity, listening to needs, and promoting community inclusion.
