GENDER AND SEXUALITY IN THE PRODUCTION OF CARE IN THE PSYCHOSSOCIAL ATTENTION NETWORK

AN INTEGRATIVE REVIEW

Abstract

The Psychosocial Care model has sparked ongoing debates about the factors that influence the processes of health and illness. Research in this field has linked social markers of difference to mental health vulnerabilities, as these markers often produce oppression, violence, and inequality, increasing the risk of psychological suffering. In this context, this article aims to analyze how gender and/or sexuality markers have been integrated into mental health care practices within RAPS (acronym Rede de Atenção Psicossocial, Psychosocial Care Network), based on bibliographic productions published between 2010 and 2023. This is a bibliographic study employing an Integrative Literature Review, using the BVS (Portuguese acronym to Biblioteca Virtual de Saúde, Virtual Health Library) as the primary database, resulting in a final sample of 14 articles. The findings reveal significant gaps in the promotion of care within RAPS, particularly regarding approaches to gender and/or sexuality. Although some studies highlight the relationship between these markers and the suffering experienced by service users, all works point to a lack of recognition of these dimensions in care practices, alongside the prevalence of Cartesian, normative, moralistic, and/or pathologizing perspectives. In order to contribute to policy formulation and the development of practices committed to addressing health inequities, key recommendations include professional training through curriculum updates and the implementation of a Permanent Health Education Policy, as well as the creation of collective care spaces.