SIB health psychology in Brazil: The challenges for working in public health settings

Abstract

Considering the diversity of theoretical approaches and settings for psychological practice, this editorial provides a background for the articles that have been included in this special issue concerning health psychology in the context of the Brazilian Unified Health System (Sistema Unico de Saude). We addressed issues concerning the national curricular outline for undergraduate training in psychology and historical data on the social movements that led to the creation of the Sistema Unico de Saude and the Psychiatric Reform which created an important area for psychological work absorbing a considerable number of psychologists.

Dilemmas and Impasses in Public Health Policies Directed at People Who Make Use of Alcohol and Other Drugs in Brazil

“…Following this track, the 2000s brought the Nova Luz project, predicting a radical transformation of the neighborhood, declaring the region as a public-use area 3 and attracting investments, by means of fiscal incentives. By proposing the demolition of existing buildings for the reconstruction of the neighborhood [13], the "New Luz" went from social blight to highly valued real estate.…”

“…The state coordinator of Drug Policies from the State Department of Justice and Defense of Citizenship (Secretaria de Estado da Justiça e Defesa da Cidadania) justified these actions: 3 The conflicts surrounding Nova Luz and the resistance organized around the actions were vividly reported in the documentary Luz, part of the project Museo de Los Desplazados, of the artistic collective LeftHandRotation. Available at: <http://vimeo.com/32848727>.…”

“…We focused on documents from the period between 2006 and 2013, when the country underwent changes in drug legislation, as well as outlining care relating to alcohol and other drugs within mental health policies (2) revision of literature on governmental actions carried out in the city of São Paulo, in particular the research conducted by public agencies on the impact of service programs and media news on the actions developed by the territory's government. In this manner, the chapter was developed with basis on a revision of literature with the introduction of an analytical angle derived from this institutional analysis-the analysis of critical events that allows for a clarification of the power plays at work in a determined situation, as well as arguing for certain naturalizations [3].…”

“…Analyzing events: critical events that allow a clarification of the forces at play in a determined situation, as well as arguing for certain naturalizations[3].Public Health -Emerging and Re-emerging Issues…”

Interlaced strands: Health psychology in Brazil from an autobiographic perspective

“…The long road that led to the present-day Brazilian Unified Health System (BUHS-SUS) has been written about extensively, including articles published in the special number of the Journal of Health Psychology , on health psychology in Brazil, published in 2016 (Spink et al, 2016). Two texts in this special number provide some of the flavour of this trajectory: the role of psychologists in public health (Ferreira-Neto and Henriques, 2016) and the continued fight in defence of the BUHS-SUS (Lara and Guareschi, 2016).…”