Itinerários terapêuticos de estudantes universitários em situação de sofrimento psíquico

Abstract

The need of mental health care among college students is known by previous researches. Likewise, the many manifestations of psychological suffering has been investigated. From that, caring actions may emerge spontaneously, but they are also headed by the Plano Nacional de Assistência Estudantil, valid since 2010, which aims to reduce the federal undergraduate student’s retention and evasion. Among the established axes, health care is highlighted in this research, which aimed to understand the therapeutic paths of college students in a psychological suffering situation, understanding therapeutic itineraries as the search for health preservation. Individual semi-structured interviews were used, guided by the theoretical framework of the Life Story. The participants were dive undergraduate students from the Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos campus, who had been studying in the institution for more than six months, over 18 years old. For data analysis, the theoretical references of Public Health and Psychosocial Care were used. After identifying the therapeutic paths, three analytical categories were formulated: i) elements of society and the university and the impacts on the psychic apparatus; ii) identification and characteristics of reported psychic sufferings and iii) common elements to therapeutic paths. It was possible to understand the therapeutic paths in their singularities, considering the personal stories and the provision of resources of each one. Common elements are important because they allow for broadening the debate to Public Health. Based on the results, we seek to strengthen the actions of prevention, promotion and mental health care for university students, both in this context and in the local psychosocial care services.