Apucarana mental health patients produce videocast

Patients at the Alcohol and Drugs Psychosocial Care Center (CAPS AD) in Apucarana, Brazil, have produced a 45-minute videocast focused on mental health. Under the guidance of a multiprofessional residency team from the Municipal Health Authority, the participants acted as reporters, scriptwriters, and cinematographers.

The project aimed to serve as a psychosocial rehabilitation strategy to foster autonomy. Approximately 20 users participated in the initiative, with nine directly involved in journalistic production and others assisting with organization and environment decoration. The production includes interviews with professionals and offers a perspective from those experiencing daily care processes.

Municipal Health Secretary Guilherme de Paula stated that such initiatives strengthen mental health care by encouraging active user participation, reducing prejudice, and strengthening social bonds. Resident psychologist Joana Braga noted that participants were involved in every stage, from conception to recording, with the professional team acting only as facilitators.