Promoção à saúde mental em um Instituto Federal: projeto de intervenção sobre autocuidado para adolescentes

Abstract

Schools play a central role in human development and in promoting adolescents’ mental health. This study aimed to analyze the perceptions and experiences of vocational high school students regarding an educational intervention program focused on self-care in health. It is an intervention-research study, with a qualitative orientation and complementary use of descriptive quantitative data, conducted at the Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia Baiano, campus Governador Mangabeira, with first-year students of integrated technical courses. A total of 36 students participated, of whom 25 were considered eligible according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. The group was composed mainly of Black and Brown youth, aged 15 to 16, predominantly female (84%), from public schools and rural areas, evidencing socioeconomic vulnerability, with most reporting a per capita income below the minimum wage. A high prevalence of anxiety symptoms was observed, along with a low proportion of psychological follow-up, revealing a gap between need and access to care. The interventions were carried out in workshop format, organized into three sessions: reflection on dimensions of self-care, strategies for coping and resilience, and a space for evaluation and exchange of perceptions. Students recognized self-care as a multifaceted practice, encompassing physical, psychological, spiritual, and social dimensions, while also pointing out difficulties and strategies for overcoming them. The workshops were positively evaluated, highlighting feelings of support, lightness, and enthusiasm, improved understanding of self-care, and intentions to adopt healthier habits, with suggestions to expand topics such as self-esteem, emotional intelligence, and healthy use of social media. It is concluded that the educational program “SelfCare Trail: Inner Bloom” fostered reflection, strengthened perceptions, and encouraged reports of incorporating self-care practices among students. As a technical product of the research, the “Self-Care Trail Guide: Inner Bloom – Educational program on self-care for the promotion of mental health” was developed, bringing together practices, reflections, and tools that may serve as a reference for future initiatives. This material reinforces the relevance of the proposal and expands its potential for continuity and replication in different school contexts, contributing to the consolidation of self-care as a daily and sustainable practice, while promoting well-being and youth protagonism.