A saúde mental dos estudantes em tempos neoliberais: estudo dos projetos desenvolvidos pelas universidades públicas brasileiras

Abstract

The main objective of this study is to analyze the institutional strategies for identifying and confronting conditions that interfere with the mental health of public higher education students implemented by Brazilian public universities in the period from 2010 to 2022. To achieve this, it was necessary to understand how neoliberal rationality causes changes in the organization of Brazilian higher education and in student mental health. It is understood that this new rationality interferes in relationships between people and how individuals deal with themselves. There is an environment of competition that results in constant demands for better performance and results, which leads to an environment of competition and individualism, and, consequently, the breaking of bonds of solidarity and cooperation. This in the context of changes imposed by the university accentuates the suffering of young people. The research has as its theoretical framework authors who discuss neoliberalism and its consequences in the organization of Brazilian higher education, opting for authors focused on critical theory. In Laval and Dardot (2016) reflections were sought about neoliberalism as rationality. To support the discussion about Brazilian public education in the context of neoliberalism, Florestan Fernandes (1975), Deise Mancebo (1998), Heribaldo Maia (2022) and Marilena Chauí (2003) were used. Researchers Janet Newman and John Clarke (2012) were referenced to understand managerialism, to understand its implications in higher education institutions. References are sought in the formulations of theoretical categories: neoliberalism, managerialism, public university and academic productivism. With regard to methodology, it is exploratory research, in which the research is constituted from the bibliographic analysis of theoretical productions related to the object of study, as well as carrying out a survey of productions related to the research theme along the basis Scielo and CAPES data. In documentary research, the investigation analyzes the data and official documents available on institutional websites, for this purpose, the 76 (seventy-six) projects aimed at student mental health developed by the 113 (one hundred and thirteen) public universities in the country were analyzed. As main results, it is highlighted that universities have been presenting an increasing number of studies and activities aimed at student mental health, especially as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, but do not include in their activities a critique or analysis of how their way of functioning is based on productivist logic.