From individual to collective: occupational profile of users of a Psychosocial Care Center.

Abstract

The occupations performed by individuals with mental health problems can inform us not only about the subjects’ everyday lives, but also about how society has dealt with mental health problems. Thus, the objective of the present study is to know about the occupation of people with mental health problems in relation to the subjects’ singularity, social network and their relationship with the social setting. The study was performed using the qualitative research methodology. Interviews were conducted with users of a Psychosocial Care Center II, located in the city of São Paulo, and people from their social network. The semi-structured interviews were used as a means of investigation, and the data were analyzed using discourse analysis. It was noted that the occupations are key for subjects to build their identity, and that while engaging in occupations the users also build social networks. It was also observed that the everyday lives of people with mental health problems can be deeply and negatively affected by an unfavorable social setting that does not offer any support or conditions for subjects to engage in occupations that they consider significant. Thus, occupations comprise and build the thread that weaves the social inclusion and exclusion processes of this particular population.