Reflexões sobre a experiência do projeto de extensão universitária “Projeto Sumé com Flores”: viveirismo, arte com solo e inclusão.

Abstract

Activities for mental health care and the construction of citizenship establish the interweaving of actions that can be developed at the Psychosocial Care Center (CAPS) involving preventive, therapeutic and social activities that stimulate creativity, autonomy, appreciation and respect, enabling a new meaning to the fullness of life. In this sense, the "Sumé with Flowers" extension project, which has been running for more than a decade, welcomes CAPS Sumé users to the university campus for collective experiences of horticultural therapy (gardening by planting succulents and vegetables) and art therapy (painting with ecological, soil-based paint), with a view to integrating individuals. The study aims to present the activities developed in this extension project, through an experience report. This is a descriptive case study of a qualitative nature. The reception activities for CAPS users taking part in the "Sumé with Flowers" project take place during weekly visits to the UFCG university campus in Sumé (PB), accompanied by extension monitors and professionals from the institution. The importance of the project has been seen in the activities to welcome users of the Psychosocial Care Centre (CAPS Sumé), pointing to the importance of similar activities to promote humanized, quality, welcoming and efficient mental health care. The activities of tinkering with the soil, together with exercises based on contact with nature, have proved effective in improving socialization and well-being, resulting in mental health gains for CAPS Sumé users. For the monitors, taking part in the extension project has made it possible to contribute to social change in the community in which they work and, at the same time, allowed them to develop new skills and abilities. Given the success of the project, it can be concluded that it is essential to establish partnerships between the university and public administration in order to strengthen extension initiatives that promote the construction of successful proposals in shared projects that lead to autonomy and an improvement in the quality of life of people with mental disorders, while also helping them to integrate into society.