The meanings of the relation between mental health and religiosity for family health professionals in Ilhéus – Bahia - DOI: 10.4025/cienccuidsaude.v8i3.9047

Abstract

Religiosity is a relevant social process for understanding the management/interpretation of mental health/illness concomitant to the growing discredit of the positivist perspective and/or its associations between religion and pathological manifestations. This study was carried out in order to analyze the meaning and attitudes of the family health professionals regarding religion and mental health, and their social implications on the mental health Care in the Strategy context. This is a social constructionist research, using qualitative approach, carried out with four Family Health Strategy teams (ESF) from the municipality of Ilhéus, Bahia. Took part in the study physicians, nurses and communitarian agents who agreed to participate and were working for more than a year in the ESF. One-session focal groups, using previously prepared topics guide, were performed. The analysis made it possible to define the following theme categories: the spiritual dimension as a trigger and explaining factor of mental disease, religion aid and its social implications, differences and similarities between religious and medical discourses. The knowledge produced aims to help broaden reflections and mental health care possibilities in the community through Family Health Strategy in association with religious places.