Mental health patients join Rio carnival street party to break stigma and promote inclusion

Описание: (13 Feb 2026)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - 12 February 2026
1. Giant puppets surrounded by revelers celebrating carnival in vibrant costumes
2. Revelers dancing
3. SOUNDBITE (Portuguese) Ariadne de Moura Mendes, 75, 'Suburban Madness' street party coordinator:
++SOUNDBITE STARTS ON SHOT 1 AND IS OVERLAID BY SHOTS 2, 4, 5++
"Who is crazy, who is not? Very fitting, very appropriate, for us to dispel this notion that madness is something dangerous, something non-productive. It shows the richness that madness brings."
4. Giant puppets surrounded by revelers celebrating carnival in vibrant costumes
5. Various of revelers, some on stilts, celebrating carnival

STORYLINE:
Patients of a mental health institution joined revellers on the streets of Rio de Janeiro on Thursday for the annual “Suburban Madness” pre-carnival parade, which promotes mental health inclusion and challenges stigma.

The bloco, as these parties are called, brought together patients and health professionals of the Nise da Silveira Mental Health Institute, as well as relatives and local residents.

“Who is crazy, who is not?” said Ariadne de Moura Mendes, 75, coordinator of the bloco. "Very fitting, very appropriate for us to dispel this notion that madness is something dangerous, something non-productive. It shows the richness that madness brings."

Participants wore colorful costumes and danced through the neighborhood to samba rhythms, celebrating what they describe as the creative power of difference.

The bloco is the result of year-round workshops in music, costumes and accessories, which organizers say function as therapeutic and social inclusion tools.

AP Video by Mario Lobão

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