Narrativas femininas e saúde mental: a saída da República Democrática do Congo e o refúgio no Rio de Janeiro.

Abstract

The main goal of this dissertation is to reflect on the refugee process and the relationship between it and the mental health of women from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) residing at Rio de Janeiro. This is a qualitative study with an ethnographic approach composed of participant observation and interviews, performed at a host institution for this population - Caritas RJ. Based on the statements of these women, this work brings forward considerations about how Brazil, which until now has legislation favorable to the issue of refuge (Law 9.474 of 1997), in fact, does not present provisions according to what it has committed and contributes to the maintenance of vulnerabilities. In analyzing the trajectories of black Congolese women refugees in the national territory, I use as a theoretical base the concepts of precariousness of life and social suffering in order to associate persistent contexts of violence and their interference in mental conditions. In this sense, it was possible to note the wide capacity of resilience presented by them and their relation to religion and culture. Among the diseases, there was a greater presence of somatoform, anxious and depressive conditions (Common Mental Disorders - CMD). Given this context, Global Mental Health (MCH) proposals with evidence-based and individualized treatments among different cultures may benefit this group.