Experience of neighbourhood violence and mental distress in Brazilian favelas: a cross-sectional household survey.

Background: Living in informal settlements with extensive neighbourhood violence has been shown to be linked with poorer mental health. However, there is little evidence as to whether different levels of personal experiences and fears of neighbourhood violence within such settlements affect mental health. This study assessed such personal experiences and fears of residents in favelas in Brazil.

Study protocol of personal characteristics and socio-cultural factors associated with mental health and quality of life of residents living in violent territories.

Background: Throughout the world, millions of people living in deprived urban environments with frequent experiences of violence are mentally distressed. There is little evidence about which characteristics of people living in such environments are associated with lower or higher levels of mental distress and how they may cope with experiences of violence.

Methods/design: This study is part of the research project 'Building the Barricades' (ES/S000720/1 ESRC-AHRC GCRF Mental Health 2017), which uses a mixed-method approach.