EDITORIAL

 

The different study foci in mental health

 

 

Margarita Antonia Villar Luis

 

 

Chief Editor of the SMAD, Revista Eletrônica Saúde Mental Álcool e Drogas, Full Professor of the University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, WHO Collaborating Centre for Nursing Research Development, Brazil, e-mail: margarit@eerp.usp.br

 

 

In this edition there will be addressed various issues related to the scope of the journal, originating from research with scientific criteria, which provide valuable data to foster interest in discussions, between teachers and students, health professionals and other areas interested in the subject. Disseminating the articles, result of learning gained by the authors when conducting their research, during the process to obtain and discuss the results, draw conclusions and present suggestions, the expectation is that readers feel encouraged to perceive their experiences as a potential scientific study and invest in transform them into scientific texts. After all, many researcher, with their practice, are doing science, but by not publishing their work they do not share and do not expose their work to criticism from peers and lose the opportunity to expand their own knowledge and to contribute to the advancement of science.

There are three studies on adolescents from high school focusing on the use of alcohol and other psychoactive drugs. These studies are from different states of Brazil, showing the peculiarities and similarities of this age group, regarding frequency and vulnerabilities for the use. These studies are complementary to the existing knowledge, therefore, they are indicators of the need to advance and invest in research directed towards intervention.

Health problems such as those relating to mental health and the use of psychoactive drugs are permeated by contradictions and are stigmatized by the general population and health workers^(1-2). Regarding drugs, while there is the stimulus, subtle or apparent to the use of some drugs, there is a marked suppression of illicit drugs. This situation has influenced, particularly, the quality of care provided to patients in health care service, since professionals still have difficulty in addressing the consumption of psychoactive drugs with their patients, one reason is because they consider this use as a moral matter^(3-4). In addition to the possible detachment of the patient, another problem arising from this view is to consider the user of such substances as immume of other health problems.

A report by the World Health Organization⁽⁵⁾ on the overall status of psychoactive substances points out the risks associated with their use, so that expresses increasing tendency in assessing the contribution of this consumption to Global Burden of Disease (GBD). In this edition, the quantity of disease due to the use of psychoactive substances together, was 8.9% in terms of Disability-Adjusted Life Year (DALY) which is not little. Therefore, the review on crack consumption and tuberculosis is so timely to reflect on the fragmentary composition that is supposed to be the human person and how it could interfere with the general assessment of health needs.

In an innovative approach, working on representations about exposure of props and tattoos in the body provides an opportunity to understand the various meanings attributed to this practice as well as the motivations that lead people to use them on their own body. Several possibilities for research can be encouraged from this study because the human body is the symbolic expression of society.

The society is built by shaping men and women bodies and through them it is materialized. Because it is predominantly a social construction, the human body has cultural phenomena characteristics, therefore, it is relative, there are variations between and within societies and varies according to the historical era, by groups and also at the individual level, according personal biography and experienced contexts⁽⁶⁾. In this manner, decorate, paint, tattoo, mutilating the human body constitute ways to express feelings, ideas, beliefs that make sense for an individual, as a member of a group, or solely to him/her at a given moment of his/her personal history.

Research on mental health present relevant aspects for this area knowledge, such as the various forms the manifestations of mental distress and expressions of divergent behaviors were classified  linked to mental health by the international classification manuals. The exposed material orientates the reader to reflect on how scientific knowledge evolves and how the tolerance of society can change in relation to human behavior under the influence of this knowledge and socio-cultural patterns of each historical moment. The other study focuses on the patient of a long-stay psychiatric institution and available resources, understanding this reality is important to think about the planning and provision of mental health care that meet the needs of individuals with a similar situation.

The presented articles indicate the commitment of researchers to deepen their knowledge on habits and problems of various population groups seeking financial help to plan health promotion and prevention activities and more effective ways to health care. The articles add scientific information, experiences that may foster debate, analysis and encourage further research.

 

References

1. Neves DP. Alcholism: indictment or diagnosis? Reports in Public Health. 2004;20(1):7-14.         [ Links ]

2. Lock CA, Kaner E, Lamont S, Bond S. A Qualitative study of nurses'attitudes and practices regarding brief alcohol intervention in primary health care. J Adv Nurs. 2002;39(4):333-42.         [ Links ]

3. Vargas D, Luis MAV. Álcool, alcoolismo e alcoolista: concepções e atitudes de enfermeiros em unidades básicas distritais de saúde. Rev. Latino-Am. Enfermagem. 2008;16(spec):543-50.         [ Links ]

4. Ronzani TR, Higgins-Biddle J, Furtado EF. Stigmatization of alcohol and other drug users by primary care providers in Southeast Brazil. Soc Sci Med. 2009;69(7):1080-4.         [ Links ]

5. World Health Organization. Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse. Global Status Report on Alcohol. Geneva: 2004.         [ Links ]

6. Rodrigues JC. Os corpos na antropologia. Cap II Abordagens Disciplinares: antropologia, história, educação, informação e comunicação. In: Minayo MC, Coimbra Jr CE (Orgs.). Críticas e atuantes: Ciências Sociais e Humanas em Saúde na América Latina. Rio de Janeiro: Fiocruz, 2005.         [ Links ]