INTRODUCTION: The university student experiences different situations during his
academic experience, and when external factors or internal to the university
environment trigger a process of mental illness, this circumstance can cause
problems for his occupational performance. OBJECTIVE: To describe the lived
experience of occupational therapeutic practices in an extension project with
university students with suspected or diagnosed mental illness. METHODOLOGY: It
is a work of qualitative approach and it is an experience report covering the practices
lived through an extension project carried out in a university located in the city of
Belém, where it covered the period between March and December of 2017. The
study's target audience was composed of eight undergraduate students from a
university in the city of Belém. The report aims to describe the performance of
Occupational Therapy in the area of mental health aimed at the university student
who presented a sickness mental. As instruments used for the collection of
information, the following construction was carried out: Diário de Campo, Reception
Form, Occupational Therapeutic Assessment Form in Mental Health and
Occupational Therapeutic Plan. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The experience in
the extension project allowed a significant amount of experiences during its
development. Different strategies were developed for the development of actions.
The initial strategy consisted of the active search, where activities of dissemination
about the project and the importance of attention to mental health were carried out.
The process was initiated by the reception of the university, where the clarification
and the collection of information pertinent to the definition of the occupational profile
of the participant was carried out. When identified problems in occupational
performance related to a mental illness, it was referred to the Occupational Therapy
Evaluation in Mental Health, with the purpose of identifying demands and the
occupational history of the student. Related aspects were identified during the visits
to students regarding self-esteem, social interaction and occupational routine. Based
on the information gathered, an intervention plan was developed, defining objectives
and proposals for approaches and techniques that could be used. However, although
there is currently a significant amount of research aimed at the university student, a
small amount of research was found relating the actions of occupational therapeutics
to the university environment. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: The actions developed by
the project showed the relevance of the offer of services directed to university
students. It also highlights the importance of raising awareness and clarifying the
importance of mental health care and broadening the discussion of the issue.
Keywords: Occupational Therapy; Mental health; Student; University.
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