Solidarity, militancy and mental health in times of pandemic

Abstract

Based on digital network narratives, we analyzed various forms of solidarity actions negotiated by users of the mental health care network to deal with the problems arising from the Covid-19 pandemic in a context of ultra-neoliberal economy. If, on the one hand, the increase in psychosocial suffering was evident, on the other hand, the coping strategies organized by those people were astounding, many of them being developed and managed by themselves. Among these strategies, there is the activation and creation of social networks for specific purposes depending on the problem to be solved. Prioritizing the notion of “gift,” these strategies updated the illusio of militancy of the users involved in them. However, the physical distance between the network members and the organization of dialogue in a virtual space make difficult the interaction dynamics in favor of the establishment of interpersonal bonds and conflict resolution.