The psychiatrist and clinical director of Casa de Saúde do Telhal, of the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of God, Vítor Cotovio, argued in an interview with ECCLESIA Agency that kindness is a fundamental virtue that can contribute to people's mental health. Cotovio identified three relational virtues that he considers especially important: kindness, generosity, and gratitude, noting that kindness, although it may seem like a lesser virtue, is in fact very significant for psychological well-being.
The specialist also spoke about the impact of technology on society, highlighting that, although technological tools were important during the pandemic to maintain connections between people, direct contact remains essential. Cotovio cited the Spanish philosopher Marina Garcés, who states that the great utopia would be to live in an intelligent world with stupid people, and highlighted that artificial intelligence does not represent real emotions, not crying or getting goosebumps.
Cotovio argued that it is necessary to have prudence and discernment in the face of technological advances, so as not to be "run over" by everything and lose critical thinking. He also cited South Korean philosopher Byung-Chul Han, who identifies a "tired society" and a "post-narrative era," where excessive scrolling and likes cause people to live on impulse, risking a society without waiting, without listening, and without mystery.
Born as the son of a GNR military officer and a serene and patient mother, Cotovio revealed that his desire to understand the least understandable and his relationship with people had always accompanied him, leading him to choose psychiatry after his Medical degree. He also argued that there are theological virtues, such as forgiveness, compassion, and hope, that intersect with psychotherapeutic virtues. The interview was broadcast on the ECCLESIA program on RTP Antena 1, on World Suicide Prevention Day.
