THERAPEUTIC HOMES: CONSTRUCTION OF AUTONOMY AND PROMOTION OF MENTAL HEALTH

Abstract

The objective of this paper is comparative analysis between two housing spaces, which act as Therapeutic Residences, located in the city of Rio de Janeiro. We sought to identify the main physical and symbolic parameters in the process of construction the autonomy of the respective residents of the analyzed houses. The data collection methods included the observation carried out by the researchers; semi-structured interviews with professionals; and open interviews with residents. To record the analyses, the field diary was used. The records of the environments were carried out with photos, sketches and metric survey of spaces and furniture. The results indicate the dimension, the density of the environments, and the consequent possibilities of privacy, fundamental factors in the construction of the autonomy of people with severe mental disorders and who have experienced psychiatric hospitalization. The repercussions of these factors in the spaces of Therapeutic Residences are mainly constituted by the flexibility and diversity of uses of the environments, guaranteeing more conditions for the constant exercise of the choices of each one