Mental Health in schools: what is the role of public authorities? – 04/24/2023 – Health in Public

Young Brazilians are getting sick more and more. Not coincidentally, the inclusion of children and adolescents in public mental health policies in Brazil was late, a consequence of the also late recognition of them as psychic subjects with rights. We are experiencing an emptying of policies for this public at a time when society is discussing security solutions to prevent armed attacks on schools. We are facing a complex problem, in which it is necessary for parliamentarians and managers to also focus on mental health needs, with a careful look and understanding of the various factors that influence this scenario, but that it is possible to reverse with existing actions and services .

The recent booklet launched by the Institute of Studies for Health Policies (IEPS) and the Cactus Institute, entitled “10 actions for Mental Health policies in schools”, brings recommendations for the Executive and Legislative powers in Brazil, pointing out how Covid-19 also may have interfered with this process. The booklet shows that during this period there was an increase in the rates of suicide, self-mutilation, truancy, depression, cases of violence in the student context and other disorders.

A monitoring by the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef), published in 2019, revealed that self-mutilation and suicide were among the main causes of mortality, which total more than 67,000 deaths annually, with depressive, anxiety and behavioral problems among the biggest contributors to the burden of disease among young people.

In 2013, the prevalence rate of mental disorders among children and adolescents was between 10.8% and 12.7%. After the pandemic, this scenario worsened dramatically. Data released by Unicef ​​in 2021 show that 56% of adults reported that a teenager in their household had one or more symptoms related to mental health during social isolation, including: sudden changes in mood and irritability (29%) and even changes in appetite (25%).

Executive and Legislature need to act

The response of parliamentarians and managers in Brasilia is urgent in this process, prioritizing the most vulnerable youth who need support in such important stages of life, as recommended by the Child and Adolescent Statute – ECA (‎Law No. 8069/1990).

The National Mental Health Policy (PNSM) and the budget for the area have suffered numerous setbacks in recent years, a situation made worse by the neglect of the Covid-19 pandemic. Therefore, the Ministry of Health today needs not only to pursue the recent damage, improving and expanding the relationship between the Psychosocial Care Network (Raps) and the School Health Program (PSE), strengthening the Unified Health System (SUS) , but it also needs to advance on historically neglected points.

In this context, the absence of data and indicators on the subject needs to be reversed from the information blackout experienced in recent years. Including, together with the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), questions about students’ perception of public mental health policies in the National Survey of Health in Schools (Pense) can be an excellent way to develop effective and contextualized actions .

In the National Congress, Bill (PL) nº 3.383/2021, authored by Senator Alessandro Vieira (PSDB), is being processed, which aims to establish the National Policy for Psychosocial Care in School Communities. The project needs to be approved for the construction of a structuring mental health policy for health professionals, students and their guardians, promoting the articulation between education, health and social assistance, with the PSE as the main tool, allied to the Law of Psychologists and Social Workers at Schools.

The arguments are numerous, pointing out that it is strategic to develop policies to promote mental health in the school environment. There is no single quick and practical solution to address the issue, especially when cases of violence become commonplace. Mental health is one of the paths to be followed and Brasília’s parliamentarians and managers can contribute to healthier school environments.

Dayana Rosa is a specialist in institutional relations and mental health at the IEPS, holds a PhD and a Master’s degree in Public Health from the Institute of Social Medicine at UERJ, and a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from the Fluminense Federal University. She has academic and professional experience in public policy on mental health, alcohol and other drugs; Bruno Ziller is a project coordinator at Instituto Cactus, holds a master’s degree in Public Policy from the Hertie School (Germany), specialist in Political Science from FESPSP and a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from ESPM. He has experience in the area of ​​government relations and political analysis, having worked in multinational consultancies, third sector entities and government agencies.

PRESENT LINK: Did you like this text? Subscriber can release five free hits of any link per day. Just click the blue F below.