Objetivo: analisar a relação entre percepção de apoio social e sintomas emocionais e físicos associados a quadros psiquiátricos entre mulheres. Método: estudo transversal, quantitativo, realizado com uma amostra aleatória randomizada de 141 mulheres atendidas numa Unidade de Saúde da Família do munícipio de Ribeirão Preto/SP. Foram utilizados questionário sociodemográfico, Questionário de Suporte Social e Self Report Questionaire. Resultados: não houve associação entre as características sociodemográficas e o transtorno mental, mas entre aspectos como baixa renda e escolaridade. O exercício de profissões culturalmente consideradas de baixo prestígio suscitou algumas reflexões relacionadas à desigualdade de gênero. Houve diferença significativa nos escores de satisfação entre as mulheres que referiram ou não os sintomas de cansaço e tristeza e do número de apoiadores entre as que referiram ou não o sintoma de cansaço. Cônjuges e filhos foram os apoiadores mais mencionados e ter transtorno mental foi significativamente associado a não ter amigos na rede de apoio. Conclusão: questões relacionadas à equidade de gênero e à satisfação com o apoio social são aspectos importantes para a assistência. Para a promoção da saúde mental deve-se empreender esforços para que as mulheres se sintam mais conectadas e amparadas pelos apoiadores disponíveis em seu entorno social.

Objective: To understand the social representations that women deprived of their freedom have of imprisonment, violence, and their consequences. Method: An exploratory-descriptive qualitative study with 15 women from a female penitentiary in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. Semistructured interview was used. Data submitted to thematic content analysis and interpreted under Social Representations. Results: Categories identified: “Enclosed and abandoned in the prison environment”: loss of contact with relatives, difficulties living in prison, and right to be reinserted into society. “Imprisoned in a cycle of social inequality”: lack of support, access to education and employment opportunities, leading them to engage in new illicit activities and consequent imprisonment. Final considerations: The social representations of prisoners suggest that they perceive themselves to be doubly “imprisoned”, either from the objective point of view, as an individual deprived of freedom; or subjective, as citizens who have their rights disrespected and their possibilities of rehabilitation limited by the prison system.

Objective: to characterize the sociodemographic and psychiatric profile of women users of psychoactive substances in treatment for drug addiction. Method: descriptive study of quantitative approach performed with women attended at a Psychosocial Care Center for Users of Alcohol and Other Drugs (CAPS ad) from the interior of São Paulo State. Results: the sample consisted of 349 adult women, single, low educational level and unemployed, users of alcohol, cocaine, crack and tranquillizers. Among the consequences of use include withdrawal syndrome, overdose, depressive and suicidal symptoms. Most were referred for treatment by the family or health services. Almost 20% of these women had previously started treatments. Conclusion: The results suggest marked morbidity and high levels of psychosocial vulnerability, which require thorough investigation at the patient’s admission, as well as damage associated with use, withdrawal symptoms and depressive symptoms.

Objective: to analyze the perception of nurses and other members of the patient care team about nurses’ actions in mental health care. Methods: the study was conducted with professionals from mental health services in the interior of the state of São Paulo. The data collected through semi-structured interviews, a questionnaire with closed questions and a focus group were submitted to content analysis. Results: the participants referred mainly to the nursing care with the body and physical health, but also identified the nurse as a “gateway” for care, facilitator and integrator of actions and as the professional who has more contact with the user. Final considerations: although the stereotype of nursing as “body caregiver” refers to the beginnings of psychiatric nursing, the perception of the participants showed aspects that suggest a change in relation to the role traditionally attributed to this profession.