A look from the perspective of collective mental health
In these times when we are still grappling with the pandemic, taking care of our mental health is a priority. Psychological distress is typically addressed on an individual basis to alleviate the discomfort of the affected person and promote their well-being.
Although it may be beneficial for many people, this approach does not usually consider the impact of the cross-cutting context (social, historical, political, economic and cultural), that is, the suffering of individuals as a whole and, therefore, of the community.
It is absolutely necessary to broaden our perspective to include in our approach the society in which the person is immersed, and thus be able to alleviate the mental suffering of the entire community.
The urgency of addressing mental health with a nursing and community perspective
This entails undertaking not only individual but also collective actions that consider the influence of structural conditions on our emotional well-being.
Collective mental health , as a discipline, seeks to promote collective interventions, taking into account the impact of sociocultural factors on subjectivity. This paradigm has a long history in Latin America, where it has driven psychiatric reform. In Europe, however, it is still in its initial stages and needs to be developed through the search for spaces for a viable form of collective health. (Martínez-Hernáez, A., & Correa-Urquiza, M. 2017).
To advance this line of thought and action, it is necessary to promote interaction between different areas of knowledge and practices, strengthen ties between the population and healthcare professionals, and take into account social values and subjectivity. Furthermore, it is essential to move beyond the hegemonic, hospital-centric, and disease-focused biomedical model and adopt a more community-based approach that emphasizes comprehensive care and equitable access to services.
Public health practices are closely linked to the structure of society and the dynamic forces within its social groups. A clear example of community practices within this framework are actions of mutual aid and support, many of which are currently taking place virtually.
These practices demonstrate that shared bonds are a powerful means of addressing collective problems and also generate social contact in the current context.
Thus, the collective mental health paradigm shows us how important it is to support and promote initiatives focused on community care .
In this scenario, mental health nurses are involved in the care of society, respecting and adding to our expert knowledge those of users with first-person experience.
It is essential to create learning spaces where, with the tools of users and professionals, paternalism is avoided and dialogue and reflection are fostered throughout the community; where, through joint effort, well-being is promoted and psychological suffering is alleviated.
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