SAÚDE MENTAL E AUTOLESÃO ENTRE JOVENS SULMATOGROSSENSES: PERCEPÇÕES E IMPLICAÇÕES PARA O CUIDADO

Self-harm is a contemporary social phenomenon in which a person intentionally causes marks on their own body in order to alleviate psychological suffering. It has two central characteristics: the injuries are not intended to be suicidal and are not socially validated. Several authors believe that self-harm is mainly practiced by young people, and the practice is sometimes reinforced among adolescents. Thus, this study aims to discuss the perceptions of a group of young students about their mental health and the phenomenon of self-harm. The research is qualitative, conducted with students enrolled in high school at three schools in the Mato Grosso do Sul State Education Network, through the application of an online form in the school context. Eighty-three young people participated, most of them girls, aged between 14 and 24 years. The results indicated that young people perceive their mental health negatively, with girls standing out in relation to boys. The issue of race also emerged significantly when compared proportionally to the other participants. The group demonstrated that they had experience with the phenomenon, making it possible to identify that self-harm is felt by young people as a form of self-regulation, an attempt to express themselves, to be seen, to be cared for.