Necessidades de cuidado em saúde mental de mulheres privadas de liberdade em Sergipe: diagnóstico situacional e construção de cartilha educativa

Abstract

The prison population has grown significantly worldwide, and the increase in crime has intensified demands for harsher punishments and expanded incarceration. In this context, the reality of prison institutions remains poorly understood, contributing to the invisibility of the living and health conditions of people deprived of their liberty. This study aimed to analyze the mental health care needs of women deprived of their liberty in the state of Sergipe. This is a quantitative study conducted at the Sergipe Women's Prison, involving 129 women deprived of their liberty, corresponding to approximately 50% of the prison population at the time of data collection. The methodological approach included the application of a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Self-Report Questionnaire (SRQ-20), and the Mental Health Care Needs Assessment Scale (CuidaSM), with descriptive data analysis using SPSS 22.1 software. Based on the results, a distinct educational booklet was developed to promote mental health and improve care in the prison context, and subsequently validated by expert judges. The results showed a high frequency of psychological distress, identified in 80.0% of participants, as well as a predominance of high and very high need for mental health care, observed in 78.0% of the sample. Histories of self-harm or suicidal thoughts, difficulties accessing health services, frequent use of psychotropic drugs, and a demand for greater professional mental health support were also identified. It is concluded that the mental health care needs of women deprived of liberty are related to multiple social, institutional, and relational vulnerabilities, requiring comprehensive, multidisciplinary care strategies articulated with the promotion of mental health and the guarantee of the right to health within the prison system.