MENTAL HEALTH AND INTEGRATION INTO THE LABOR MARKET: LIMITATIONS AND POSSIBILITIES FOR USERS OF THE PSYCHOSOCIAL CARE NETWORK

Abstract

Introduction: The Psychosocial Care Network (RAPS) has as one of its main objectives to promote the social inclusion of people suffering from mental illness, with work understood as a fundamental element in this process. However, the insertion of these individuals into the labor market often occurs in a limited way and marked by precarious conditions. Objective: To analyze, through a systematic literature review, the reality of access to the labor market by RAPS users, considering the tensions between inclusion, precariousness, and the persistence of unequal social structures, from an anti-colonial perspective. Methodology: This is a qualitative research, developed through a systematic literature review, with searches carried out in the SciELO, PubMed, and CAPES Periodicals Portal databases, from 2020 to 2025. Full articles in Portuguese were selected, organized, and analyzed according to the research objectives. Results and Discussion: The analyzed studies show that, although there are initiatives aimed at labor market inclusion, these develop in a context marked by structural inequalities, stigmatization, and labor market demands that hinder the permanence of these individuals in work activities. It is also observed that strategies such as workshops and collective projects contribute to social inclusion, but do not always guarantee dignified and stable working conditions. The literature indicates that inclusion through work cannot be understood solely as access to productive activities; it is necessary to consider the concrete conditions in which this inclusion occurs, as well as the social and economic relations that structure the world of work. Conclusion: It is concluded that the inclusion of users of the Psychosocial Care Network (RAPS) in the labor market occurs amidst contradictions, requiring the articulation of public policies and the construction of strategies that guarantee not only access to work, but also dignified conditions, autonomy, and effective social participation.