Solidarity economy as a social inclusion strategy through work in the field of mental health: National overview

Abstract

Introduction: The solidarity economy is a strategy of social inclusion through work for people with psychic suffering. In Brazil, until 2005 there was no systematized survey of Solidary Economical Enterprises (SEE) that allowed analyzes on this reality, even though information of this nature is recognized as fundamental for the evaluation and advancement of strategies to sustain these actions. The National Secretary for Solidarity Economy (SENAES) has invested in the national mapping of the SEE since 2005, and between 2010 and 2013, the second and last survey on the SEE was carried out in the country, which fed the National Information System in Solidarity Economy (SIES). Objective: To characterize the solidary economical enterprises of the field of mental health registered in the database of SIES from the second national mapping. Method: This is a documentary study that analyzed descriptively the data contained in SIES. Results: One hundred and forty enterprises were identified, predominantly composed of people with mental disorders, including those resulting from the use of alcohol and other drugs in a total of 19,708 enterprises registered in Brazil. The results point out that there are many similarities in the characteristics of SEE in the field of mental health with other SEE, such as the type of organization, economic activity developed, marketing spaces, achievements and challenges. Conclusion: Among the specificities of the mental health field, we can point more significantly to the regional distribution and area of action. It discusses the achievements revealed by the mapping and the challenges posed for the advancement.