Conhecimento de alunos de escolas públicas de ensino fundamental sobre saúde mental.

Abstract

Mental health policies recognize the educational institution as a privileged space to promote health practices, prevention, and health education. The process of knowledge construction is continuous and both teachers and students are important players in the process of changing habits and attitudes harmful to the health. This study aims to verify the level of knowledge of Public Elementary School Students from the city of Cajazeiras, state of Paraíba, on mental health. This is a field research with a quantitative approach, whose subjects were 145 students of Public Elementary Schools. The instrument used for data collection was a questionnaire consisting of closed questions: the first part refers to the sociodemographic characteristics of the participants; the second part contains questions relating to mental health. We adopt the following process: 1st - visit the Public Elementary Schools; 2nd - request permission to the School's Principal to develop this research; 3rd - application of the questionnaire; 4th - dissemination of the results of this research in scientific events. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, being presented through graphs and tables. The results showed that the age of the participants of the research ranged from 10 to 17 years, the participants with age between 10 to 13 are most prevalent in the Antonio Tabosa Rodrigues School (CAIC), and the ones between 14 to 16 years in the Costa & Silva School; significant part of the students' families have a monthly income of 1 (one) minimum wage (R$ 880.00) in both schools; most students' parents have made the 1st to 5th grade of Elementary School among both of the researched sites; The Elementary School Students not even have a scientific basis, bringing with them an empirical knowledge related to the proposed theme due to life experiences in the community, in the cycle of friends, and among family members, but we have also noticed the existence of a stigma related with mental illnesses patients. In addition, the researched students also have an incipient knowledge of the Psychosocial Care Center (CAPS), many of them did not know about the existence of the care centers in the city, or they didn't know where to find them. So there is a need to expand the discussion of topics related to mental health for young people in Public Schools, for them to be able to opt for a healthier and inclusive attitudes.