Saúde mental e trabalho: ações dos centros de referência em saúde do trabalhador de Minas Gerais

Abstract

NUNES, C. S. M. Mental Health and Work: Actions of the Workers' Health Reference Centers of Minas Gerais. 2025. 180f. Dissertation (Professional Master's Degree in Health Services Management) – School of Nursing, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, 2025. Work is a social determinant of the health-disease process. Therefore, for comprehensive mental health care, work-related psychosocial risks need to be considered. The National Policy for Workers' Health (PNSTT), as a public policy of the Unified Health System (SUS), establishes that health actions at all points of the Health Care Network (RAS) must consider the circumstances in which work activities are performed and their possible relationships with the disease process. The Workers' Health Reference Center (CEREST) is a specialized care service that acts as a center for coordinating and organizing worker health actions in the National Network for Comprehensive Workers' Health Care (RENASTT) and is the priority strategy for implementing the PNSTT. The general objective of this study was to describe the mental health and work actions implemented by the CERESTs of Minas Gerais, and to analyze whether they meet the objectives of the PNSTT. It consisted of a qualitative research approach, with an exploratory purpose and the method used was the multiple case study. The analysis units were 18 CERESTs and the study had 21 participants. Data collection was carried out through semi-structured interviews (with the signing of the Free and Informed Consent Form/TCLE), online and recorded by the Google Meet platform. Transcription was performed by the FireFlies tool and the MAXQDA® software was used to assist in data analysis. The content analysis technique proposed by Bardin was applied to interpret the data. The research was approved by the Research Ethics Committees involved. Results: CERESTs provide direct psychological assistance to workers, but the research reveals divergences in the understanding of the role of the service in mental health care. The Psychosocial Care Network (RAPS) devices are insufficient in providing care for emotional distress and work-related mental illnesses. Epidemiological surveillance of emotional distress and work-related mental disorders is a routine implemented by CERESTs. Surveillance of Work Environments and Processes (VAPT) to assess psychosocial risks is challenging due to the <invisibility= of risk factors and conditions, making it difficult to identify them during on-site inspection, and due to the lack of training of the technical team. There is a need to increase integration among CEREST professionals, including psychologists in VAPT activities. Thus, the research concluded that CERESTs act as a backup for the Health Care Network (RAS), but it identified the need to strengthen the integration of worker health actions in primary care, through the expansion of matrix support and continuing education actions. The absence of a specific national guideline on how mental health and work actions should be carried out in CEREST results in varied practices and disparities in worker care. As a technical product, a course on <Evaluation of work-related psychosocial risks= was developed, to be offered in person, for the CEREST teams in Minas Gerais.