Saúde, sofrimento mental e trabalho: um estudo sobre as determinações do sofrimento mental dos trabalhadores

Abstract

This research aims to assess the relation between the capitalism mode of production and the causes of mental suffering in this society. A research was conducted about the history of labor relations in the capitalist society, highlighting the different manners of work management since the beginning of the 20th century and the workers struggles in each of these moments. The theme was assessed according to the critique of political economy, as conducted by Marx and Engels. The qualitative research methodology was based in a theoretical-bibliographic study in order to better understand the object, according to authors who have a critical stance against the capitalist society. Therefore, the following authors were studied: Louis Le Guillant assessments, developed after the II World War, where he develops, contrary to the main psychiatric theories of his time, the Labor Psychopathology, giving value to patients life experience, specially their work history; Christophe Dejours’ Labor Psychodynamics and his assessment of work management and how workers create different defense mechanisms to bear their daily lives; Asa Laurell and the social determinants of illness; the Italian Workers Model (IWM), which became a reference in the discussion about health in the workplace finally, Yves Clot’s Clinic of Activity, which gathers contributions from the Italian Workers Model, Le Guillant’s the Labor Psychopathology and Soviet psychology. As a result of the assessment, the importance of the theme was highlighted , both for the need to widen the studies about health, mental suffering and work relations, aiming at the suppression of capitalist society, and for the contributions made to different fields of study, especially those compromised with the workers, since nowadays they face attacks that worsen workers’ life and work conditions.