MENTAL HEALTH PROFILE OF MULTIPROFESSIONAL HEALTH RESIDENTS IN THE STATE OF MATO GROSSO DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Abstract

The advance of the COVID-19 pandemic directly affected the mental health of populations, especially among graduate students in the health area, who experienced professional practice and graduate studies during this period. The research aimed to know the mental health profile of residents of a lato sensu graduate program in the state of Mato Grosso, during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a descriptive, cross-sectional and quantitative study, with graduate students at the lato sensu level in the health area linked to multiprofessional residency programs in Mato Grosso. Data collection was carried out through the online application of a sociodemographic questionnaire and the Level 1 Transversal Symptom Scale – Self-administered from the DSM-5. Data were coded using the Minitab19® program, imported into the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) software, versión 26.0. 25 students participated in this study, predominantly female, aged between 18 and 29 years, black race/color, family income between 3 and 4 minimum wages and without a partner, 76% did not have health problems, 72% performed physical activity frequently, 36% were overweight or obese and 72% reported a perception of worsening health. As for mental health, 56% had somatic symptoms, 52% depression, anger and anxiety, followed by 44% personality functioning, 40% substance use, 36% sleep disturbance, 32% dissociation and mania, 28% thoughts and repetitive behaviors, 24% memory, 16% psychosis and, less frequently, 12% suicidal ideation. The worsening of mental health may be related to the fact that these students experience a dichotomy, either because they are face to face with the unknown of the pandemic in community service, or because of adapting to remote teaching. It is essential to know this scenario for planning actions that can mitigate the negative consequences of this pandemic moment.