THE CURRICULUM AS A PROMOTER OF MENTAL HEALTH: A FOCUS ON HEALTH RESIDENCIES

Abstract

Due to the high prevalence of psychological distress among students in Health Residency Programs and its direct impact on the quality of care provided and the sustainability of the health system, it is crucial to consider the mental health of residents, which involves promoting a healthy, more humane, safe, and efficient training environment. The objective of this essay is to develop a reflection on the Integrated and Competency-Oriented Curriculum adopted in the Multiprofessional Residency Programs in Family and Community Health (PRMSFC) of three institutions: the Municipal Health Secretariat of Florianópolis/SC (SMS Florianópolis), the School of Public Health of the Municipal Health Secretariat of Palmas/TO (ESPP/SEMUS), and the School of Public Health of the Capixaba Institute of Teaching, Research and Innovation/ES (ICEPi). These curricula contribute to the mental health of residents by transforming the training environment, shifting from a model of pressure and exhaustion to a model of supportive and reflective learning. To this end, a humanistic training process is adopted, focusing on the integral development of the individual, which values ​​autonomy, empathy, and self-acceptance, in addition to being critically reflective and methodologically coherent with the current world, preparing residents for professional life. As a result, this humanized professional training aims to help the resident overcome the condition of being a mere object of training to enhance their full development, both technically and humanly.