Saúde mental de estudantes de terapia ocupacional no Brasil: cuidar de si para cuidar do outro

Abstract

This research aimed to understand the academic daily life of Occupational Therapy students in Brazil who self-reported psychological distress, their sociodemographic profiles, and to identify Higher Education Institutions with support strategies. A sample of 26 students obtained via Google Forms, between November and December 2024, revealed that all had difficulty dealing with the routine and academic overload; 14 had thoughts of death, 24 felt exhausted, 15 only studied, and 11 reconciled study and work. Aged between 18 and 35, predominantly women (20), the majority declared themselves white. 19 from federal public institutions, 06 state institutions, and 01 private, in-person modality. Only 13 participants reported having support strategies in their institutions. The results highlight the need for HEIs to implement more assertive and accessible support strategies, since the narratives reveal significant psychological distress with repercussions on scientific daily life.