Life narratives and psychological illness in Primary Health Care

Abstract

Introduction: Mental illness is a complex experience, shaped by social and health determinants that interconnect uniquely in each individual. Life narratives emerge as powerful tools to reveal the nuances of this reality, offering insights into the meanings attributed to suffering and the paths taken in search of care. Objective: To understand how people in psychological distress recognize their illness experiences, construct their explanatory models, seek treatments, and perceive the impacts on their life trajectories. Methodological procedures: A qualitative exploratory research conducted with seven users of mental health groups in Primary Health Care (PHC) in a municipality in São Paulo. The McGill Illness Narrative Interview (MINI) was used, and the analysis was based on Vygotsky's Cultural-Historical Approach, structuring the results into nuclei of significance. Results: The analysis revealed an intrinsic relationship between suffering and contexts of vulnerability, such as bereavement and caregiving burden. Participants reframe their illness through retrospectives of their family and social history, building explanatory models that often transcend the biomedical paradigm, including spiritual dimensions. Therapeutic itineraries show a search for integral care that combines pharmacological treatment in PHC with religious support, listening groups, and physical activities. Conclusion: The results reinforce the need for integral and humanized care models that value the patient's narrative and combat social stigma. Attention to social determinants and the provision of a diverse support network are crucial to promote resilience and recovery for individuals experiencing mental distress.