Jardins da mente - projeto para criação de hortos comunitários

Abstract

People in low-income areas frequently rely on traditional medicine based on tacit knowledge about the therapeutic properties of plants. This is especially common when there is limited access to modern, conventional medical therapies. At the same time, collective gardening promotes well-being through outdoor physical activity, socialization, and healthy eating. Among the contemporary challenges faced by health systems are population aging and the growing burden of mental illness. Traditional knowledge about medicinal plants is being progressively incorporated into the Brazilian public health system through standardized phytotherapeutics and medicinal gardens. The potential of similar initiatives specifically aimed at mental health may provide a useful and low-cost adjunct tool in managing psychiatric disorders and associated comorbidities. This project aims to develop a plan for creating a community medicinal garden. The method will involve collecting data on plants useful in managing anxiety and insomnia, especially those already used in the region, developing educational materials on sleep hygiene, and coordinating with health authorities for the garden’s implementation. This intervention project is expected to provide safe alternatives for treating insomnia and mild anxiety symptoms, supporting the deprescription of psychotropic drugs, and improving the quality of life of the assisted population.