Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
A necessidade de ações concretas para fomentar, preservar e cuidar da saúde mental das
crianças tem vindo a ser sublinhada em vários relatórios internacionais. Proporcionar o
acesso a cuidados de saúde mental de qualidade, que permitam a Todas as crianças
desenvolverem-se de forma plena, é um desafio complexo, que merece ser abordado.
Entre as crianças que necessitam de cuidados ao nível da saúde mental, encontram-se
aquelas que apresentam hiperatividade, uma resposta motora frequente entre as crianças
caracterizadas como irrequietas. Neste trabalho pretendemos conhecer e compreender
mais aprofundadamente as características destas crianças e, além disso, descobrir como
se podem potencializar as suas capacidades e competências, bem como promover a sua
tranquilização. Assumindo um paradigma interpretativo, optou-se por um design de
estudo de caso intrínseco, recorrendo a desenhos e histórias das crianças identificadas
como irrequietas, que se encontravam em acompanhamento pedagógico-terapêutico no
Centro Doutor João dos Santos - Casa da Praia. Os participantes desta investigação foram
três crianças, identificadas pela equipa clínica do Centro Doutor João dos Santos - Casa
da Praia - como apresentando irrequietude. Os instrumentos de recolha de dados usados
foram: (1) as observações registadas em Diário de Bordo do investigador; (2) o desenho
livre e respetiva história narrada pela criança; e (3) a recolha documental. Nos resultados,
apresentam-se as observações realizadas, as características dos desenhos e respetivas
interpretações. Sinalizam-se, entre outros, a capacidade dos participantes para o
reconhecimento dos perigos que os rodeiam, e uma inquietação que possivelmente os
habita e da qual procuram fugir. Apresentam-se as características das histórias e os
aspetos, a partir dos quais, se pode promover a concentração e a socialização, quer com
adultos, quer entre pares. Sinaliza-se sobretudo aquilo de que cada criança é capaz,
abrindo espaço para se construir, ao invés de se assinalar impossibilidades, o que sublinha
o potencial clínico dos desenhos e das respetivas histórias.
ABSTRACT: The need for concrete actions to promote, preserve and care for children's mental health has been highlighted in several international reports. Providing access to quality mental health care, which allows all children to fully develop, is a complex challenge that deserves to be addressed. Among the children who require mental health care are those who present hyperactivity, a frequent motor response among children characterized as restless. In this work we intend to learn more about and understand the characteristics of these children more in-depth and to illuminate how their abilities and competencies can be enhanced, as well as promoting their calm. Assuming an interpretative paradigm, we used an intrinsic case study design, based on drawings and stories from children identified as restless, who were undergoing pedagogical-therapeutic care at Centro Doutor João dos Santos - Casa da Praia. The participants were three children, identified by the clinical team at Centro Doutor João dos Santos - Casa da Praia - as showing restlessness. The data collection instruments used were: (1) observations, recorded in the researcher's diary; (2) the free drawing and the stories narrated by the children; and (3) documents. The results analyzed the observations, the characteristics of the drawings and stories, emerging their interpretations. It signalizes the participants' capability to identify the dangers around them, as well as an underlying restlessness that they may be trying to escape. The characteristics of the stories and the aspects from which concentration and socialization can be promoted, both with adults and among peers, are also presented. Above all, what each child is capable of is highlighted, opening space for self-construction rather than pointing out impossibilities, thus highlighting the clinical potential of the drawings and their accompanying stories.
ABSTRACT: The need for concrete actions to promote, preserve and care for children's mental health has been highlighted in several international reports. Providing access to quality mental health care, which allows all children to fully develop, is a complex challenge that deserves to be addressed. Among the children who require mental health care are those who present hyperactivity, a frequent motor response among children characterized as restless. In this work we intend to learn more about and understand the characteristics of these children more in-depth and to illuminate how their abilities and competencies can be enhanced, as well as promoting their calm. Assuming an interpretative paradigm, we used an intrinsic case study design, based on drawings and stories from children identified as restless, who were undergoing pedagogical-therapeutic care at Centro Doutor João dos Santos - Casa da Praia. The participants were three children, identified by the clinical team at Centro Doutor João dos Santos - Casa da Praia - as showing restlessness. The data collection instruments used were: (1) observations, recorded in the researcher's diary; (2) the free drawing and the stories narrated by the children; and (3) documents. The results analyzed the observations, the characteristics of the drawings and stories, emerging their interpretations. It signalizes the participants' capability to identify the dangers around them, as well as an underlying restlessness that they may be trying to escape. The characteristics of the stories and the aspects from which concentration and socialization can be promoted, both with adults and among peers, are also presented. Above all, what each child is capable of is highlighted, opening space for self-construction rather than pointing out impossibilities, thus highlighting the clinical potential of the drawings and their accompanying stories.
Description
Dissertação de Mestrado apresentada no Ispa –
Instituto Universitário para obtenção
de grau de Mestre na especialidade
de Psicologia Clínica
Keywords
Desenhos Histórias Saúde mental Irrequietude Hiperatividade Centro Doutor João dos Santos - Casa da Praia Drawings Stories Mental health Restlessness Hyperactivity