Abstract

NOVAES CUNHA, Carolina  and  STELLA BRANDAO GOULART, Maria. The political participation of people with mental suffering: the Users Association of Mental Health Services of Minas Gerais (Asussam-MG). Psicol. rev. (Belo Horizonte) [online]. 2015, vol.21, n.3, pp. 513-533. ISSN 1677-1168.  http://dx.doi.org/DOI-10.5752/P.1678-9523.2015v21n3p513.

The paper discusses the political participation of people with mental suffering in the context of anti-asylum movement and psychiatric reform in Minas Gerais, pointing out the concepts of citizen political participation and deliberation. We conducted a case study by the Association of Users of Mental Health Services of Minas Gerais (Asussam-MG), in Belo Horizonte. In field research, we worked with participant observation and conversational dynamics. We made a descriptive presentation of the association and high-lighted some critical aspects from the point of view of its members, which underlie the practice of this political entity. Finally, we highlight the emancipatory potential that promotes political participation, both in social and subjective aspects, to provide development of autonomy and freedom to the users of mental health, emphasizing the importance of socio-political role of associations in the struggle for rights and citizenship

Keywords : Political participation; People with mental suffering; Antiasylum movement.

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