HOME VISIT IN MENTAL HEALTH CARE: A REPORT OF ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE

Abstract

In the Family Health Strategy (ESF) scenario, the home visit (VD) is a modality of assistance in the territory to registered families, aiming at attitudes of promotion, prevention, and recovery of the health of the individual and his family in his home space. Therefore, it is an important tool in mental health care in Primary Care, as it allows professionals to experience the user’s reality, contributing to problem-solving, family guidance, and possible referrals and interventions. The present work aims to report the academic experience of a group of students  during the VD on a patient in the context of mental health. This is, therefore, a descriptive study with a qualitative approach, of the experience report type, involving home visits carried out by students of the fifth period of the undergraduate medical course in the Teaching-Service Community Integration module as the axis of longitudinal care. VD was carried out in May of  the current year, with the supervision of the preceptor and the Community Health Agent (ACS)  at the home of a family with severe dysfunction in which the index patient is diagnosed with  panic disorder, depression, and anxiety disorder, responsible for causing negative repercussions  for themselves and their families. Therefore, there is a need for continuous monitoring of the  primary care team, including the psychologist of the multidisciplinary team, as well as the  articulation of the ESF team with the mental health network of their municipality, providing  greater family and social support and quality of life. life. Finally, it should be noted that the lived experience allowed the students to consolidate the knowledge acquired in the classroom, enabling a broader view of mental health care. Furthermore, it was possible to develop communication skills with users and understand how individuals with mental disorders should be approached.