Gender violence increases risk of death in young Venezuelans

O alert was given at the beginning of the week during the presentation of the balance of 2025 of the Psychological Service “We Are News”, initiative of the NGO Community Learning Centers, which works locally in the promotion and defense of the human rights of children and adolescents.

“ The changes in the state of mind are, in an overwhelming way, the main reason for consultation, a historical trend that has been maintained since the pandemic [of covid-19], but has been aggravated, year after year”, warned Abel Saraiva, stressing that the pictures of depression, anxiety and mixed manifestations overcome disturbing behaviors at home and family conflicts.

According to Luso-venezuelano, in 2025, the service attended 30,828 people (124% more than the 13,723 attended in the previous year) of which 12,185 were children and adolescents, and 18,643 adults.

“And why were so many adults attended?” he questioned. “Because children do not go to the consultation alone”, but are accompanied by the family, but also because “in order for any initiative related to child care to make sense, it is necessary to work with the family nucleus”.

The psychologist also explained that one in every three cases attended presented emotional affectation, and violence as a transversal axis.

“Violence is a theme on which we stop to reflect (...). In most cases, people do not seek help because of violence, even if they are experiencing situations of violence. What happens is that they feel bad, are sad, anxious, have difficulties ", explained.

Abel Saraiva also warned that 37.6% of the adolescent population presents a clinical picture above the minimum risk of suicide, higher than 9.88% in infants aged 5 to 11 years.

He also said that 30 out of 40 cases classified as imminent risk are adolescents, 40.3% females, a population affected by factors such as abuse, sexual violence, gender-based violence and the burden of parental responsibilities.

“ Year after year we have found that the age of onset [of depression and anxiety pictures] decreases and that new cases are emerging increasingly early”, he stressed.

According to Luso-venezuelano, in parallel, 20.1% of adult men treated present a serious and imminent risk, due to a factor associated with gender barriers that prevent them from seeking psychological support in time.

Abel Saraiva also warned that “two in three cases with suicidal ideas presented self-mutilation” a key indicator of an increased risk.

“ Adolescents from the LGBTIQ+ collective have 58.46% of suicidal ideas, compared with 31.8% of the general population,” he said, saying that in a community or sector, “if there are any adolescents who identify with this collective, the probability of presenting some type of suicidal risk is greater than 50%.”.

The NGO Cecodap – Community Learning Centers was created 41 years ago by Luso-venezuelano Fernando Augusto Pereira, son of an emigrant from Espinho, to promote and defend the Human Rights of children and adolescents in Venezuela.

Later, under Cecodap, Portuguese-venezuela psychologist Abel Saraiva, a descendant of natural immigrants from Fermentelos, created the Psychology Service Growing Without Violence, in the context of the 2017 political protests in Venezuela. Currently, the service serves thousands of children and adolescents per year.