Social reintegration of psychiatric patients in society

an experience report

Abstract

Introduction: Historically, individuals with severe mental disorders have been socially excluded, had their civil rights denied, and remained for long periods in psychiatric institutions, hindering social participation and full exercise of citizenship. Objective: To report the experience of the Resocialize Project, developed by faculty and students at the Faculdade de Ciências Médicas de Minas Gerais in the first semester of 2025, aimed at reintegrating psychiatric patients into society, focusing on approximately twenty residents of Residencial Olhar with a history of prolonged institutionalization. Experience Report: Activities consisted of weekly workshops structured according to participatory principles, including introduction, collaborative execution, reflection, and qualitative evaluation. After each session, a student recorded participants’ impressions, urgent situations, necessary adjustments, and personal learnings. The workshops promoted tangible benefits for the residents, such as increased self-esteem, expanded social networks, and greater initiative in daily self-care, while providing students with practical experience in active listening, empathy, and interprofessional collaboration. Final Considerations: The project demonstrated that achieving the goals of the Brazilian Psychiatric Reform requires more than transferring individuals from hospitals to the community, demanding continuous effort to rebuild social bonds and citizenship. It reinforces the transformative role of universities as social agents and highlights the urgency of public policies ensuring dignity and inclusion for people with mental disorders.