Representações sociais dos profissionais sobre a prática em saúde mental : pressupostos, ressignificação e satisfação profissional

Abstract

This research was aimed to know the social representations of health professionals about the practice in the new mental health services in a Paraiba´s city. We sought to characterize the group surveyed about the personal aspects, socio-demographic and professional; apprehend the social representations of the technical team on the professional activities in the new model of mental health care; interpret the social representations of the technical team based on the assumptions of the Psychiatric Reform . It is a qualitative research approach and type descriptive and exploratory, based on theoretical-methodological support of the Theory of Social Representations. The study was conducted in three Psychosocial Care Center, for children, general and alcohol and other drugs, in the city of Campina Grande-PB. Integrated the study professional with the university level.The empirical material was obtained through Structured interview for demographic data, Testing of Free Association of Words and focus group. The project was approved by the Research Ethics Committee, and followed the ethical and legal resolution 196/96 of National Health Council. The results show similarities on the issues oF training and encouraging the pursuit of knowledge related to changes in mental health and discussion practices; the other hand, it is clear that the precariousness of employment contracts, including the financial aspect. With respect to dynamic operation, the results indicate that services are welcoming people in mental distress, from the specificity of each demand. But at the same time highlight the implications for working conditions in the area and the fragile social support provided to the demand for mental health. Based on the social representations about the practice in the new mental health services, we realized that some of the principles of psychiatric reform are being put into practice in everyday services, including: teamwork, interdisciplinary; welcoming customers, respecting uniqueness and individuality; offering other forms of approaches than drugs. We concluded that the social representations of the professionals seem to have incorporated terms that focus on epistemological changes in production practices, and are guided into knowledge that promote new approaches, expanding the interventions, so that the individual can appropriate mechanisms for the management of your everyday life. This study doesn`t exhaust the possibility of future research on the subject, and it is expected to assist in studies of profession practice in mental health set into new paradigm in public health policies and mental health.