O teatro na saúde mental e suas implicações na expressão dos afetos: um estudo com usuários do Centro de Atenção Psicossocial - CAPS

Abstract

This research addresses the importance of using the expressive resources of art as interventional strategies in the field of mental health, especially with regard to severe psychological disorders. The city of Santos-SP has historically stood out for its actions aimed at the anti-asylum struggle through the implementation of innovative practices, among them, the theater of Grupo Biruta de Artes Cênicas and the Theater of the Oppressed (TO), which are humanized tools and promoting the expression of affection and mental health. The research aims to describe and analyze the effectiveness of the theater group technical procedure in mental health with the users of the Psychosocial Care Center (CAPS), as well as offering scientific support for the implementation of public policies aimed at the development of subjective wellbeing of participants in the psychosocial care network. This is a qualitative research using the clinical method. The methodological design was carried out in 3 stages, the first of which involved the participation of 5 adult women, CAPS participants, who were individually submitted to a semi-guided interview and the Free Design procedure, before and after participating in 10 group meetings. The data obtained from each of the participants were analyzed and then, were integrated in a conclusive synthesis, according to the proposed objective. With regard to the results, from the integrated analysis of the set of applied procedures, it was possible to identify that the theatrical strategies and expressive resources used in group meetings favored the development of the capacity for free expression, allowing affective manifestations of different natures, facilitated the verbal and paraverbal communication, allowing the participants to understand their psychic suffering and take ownership of their own path in the construction of coping. The research can also provide subsidies that justify the importance of using these technical theatrical resources as a device for the relief of the psychological suffering of the CAPS participants, thus expanding the clinical and institutional practice and contributing to the implementation of public policies relevant to the development of the subjective well-being of those who live with this suffering. The results obtained in this research point to the need for further research in the area.