Can Cash Transfers Protect Mental Health? Evidence from an Observational Cohort of Children and Adolescents living in Adverse Contexts in Brazil

Key Points

• Cash transfers have potential protective effects on mental health outcomes in vulnerable youth populations.
• The study observes children and adolescents in adverse contexts, highlighting socioeconomic influences on mental well-being.
• Utilizing an observational cohort methodology enables in-depth analysis of mental health impacts over time among participants.
• Findings suggest integrating cash transfers into public health strategies could mitigate negative mental health outcomes.