Participatory action research methodology in the psychosocial rehabilitation of persons with mental illness

Abstract

Due to the process of deinstitutionalization, mental health care is not centralized in psychiatric hospitals, which will soon cease to exist in accordance with the guidelines of the National Mental Health Plan - NMHP (2007-2016), to be developed in the community. In addition to clinical care, rather than treating symptomatology, it is necessary to change some attitudes and representations so that the person with mental illness (MI) is viewed in its entirety and in an integrated way, considering its history and contexts of life. The person with MI is a full citizen and must have an active and participative voice in everything that surrounds her, in order to achieve an adjusted psychosocial rehabilitation. The use of research and action methodologies that translate into possibilities of change for the subjects involved is a current and urgent challenge. This article intends to share the project "Rehabilitate in mental health: An integrated, integral and participated approach", developed in the scope of the Master in Education and Social Intervention, in the specialization in Psychosocial Action in Risk Contexts, and, from it, to reflect on the importance and the impact of the use of the participatory action research methodology on the psychosocial rehabilitation of people with MI.