Vozes da pandemia da Covid-19: o que aprendemos sobre a nossa saúde mental?

Abstract

At the end of 2019, a new serious respiratory illness emerged in Wuhan, China. Quickly disseminated globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the event a pandemic in March 2020. The study aimed to analyze the effects of working on the front line of the COVID 19 pandemic on the mental health of professionals, exploring their coping strategies and the discourses formed around this experience. The analysis is based on Michel Foucault's post-structuralist concepts. The research was qualitative and had health professionals as the unit of analysis, including nurses, doctors, nursing technicians and physiotherapists. They worked in various health services during the initial years of the pandemic (2020-2021), when vaccination coverage was low. The study explored how fear of contamination and working conditions affected their lives. Three central discursive characters emerged: "panoptism" (constant surveillance), the "vector" (the one who carries the virus) and the "hero" (professional who faces the pandemic). Coping strategies included the use of alcohol, physical activities and psychological support. The study also criticized the Brazilian government for its denialist response to the pandemic, neglecting protective measures. The need to develop strategies for caring for the mental health of professionals is highlighted and promotes critical reflection on power structures, aiming to improve the resilience and well-being of these workers.