Abstract

MINARE, Nathália Fernandes  and  CARDOSO, Carmen Lúcia. Mental health community group: relationships established by long-term regular participants. Vínculo [online]. 2021, vol.18, n.1, pp. 80-89. ISSN 1806-2490.  http://dx.doi.org/10.32467/issn.19982-1492v18nesp.p388-406.

ABSTRACT The Mental Health Community Group (MHCG) is a mental health promotion strategy whose care proposal is based on attention to daily experiences. The purpose of this paper is to understand the relationships established by long-term regular participants with MHCG, which means people who have been participating in the MHCG for at least two years, voluntarily and actively. This is a qualitative research, conducted through open interviews and participant observation, using the thematic analysis method. Seven participants were interviewed, who were users of mental health services. The analysis points to the participants' bond with the Group, which can be understood by three main themes: affective relationships (feelings of gratitude and appreciation for the Group); community relationships (relations based on empathy and solidarity); and belonging relationships (gradual Group connection process, perception of place of belonging). The study of the relations established with the MHCG contributed to a better understanding of the protagonism of people in mental distress, besides helping to problematize the concept of adherence to interventions of mental health strategies.

Keywords : Mental health; Mental Health Community Group; Health promotion; Bond; Relationships.

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