A atuação dos psicólogos nos centros de referência em saúde do trabalhador

Abstract

The field of Worker ́s Health is not present, or appears briefly, in the academic education of the Brazilian psychologist. However, it is observed on the one hand, as a result of the expansion of Psychology courses, the increasing supply of professionals that act not only in the Occupational field as in many others. On the other hand, a demand (from companies, the State and even from workers in unions) that psifields respond to the impacts of work (and the absence of it, in the case of unemployment) on mental health. The field of Worker ́s Health was introduced as public policy in Brazil with the Federal Constitution of 1988, and in 2002, the Worker ́s Health Reference Centres (CEREST in Portuguese) become the core policy, considered "dissemination poles". The psychologist acts in those reference units since their formation and we understand the importance of investigating its performance. This work is a study about the work of psychologists in CERESTs and the theoretical-political field of Worker ́s Health. Thus, an online questionnaire was made with psychologists working in CERESTs, where we obtained 48 replies. The analysis is divide into four topics: (1) data and profile of the psychologist, (2) activities of the psychologist in CEREST, (3) service and policy scenario and (4) action strategies. The study showed the limits present, from the academic education to everyday practice, and made possible to understand the difficulties in putting in practice the proposals on Worker ́s Health given the conditions imposed by a neoliberal agenda, rather than related to the commitment or not from the professional. In addition to identifying such limits, also points out action strategies for a performance more aligned with the field, some proposed by the professionals themselves.