PROFESSIONALS' PERCEPTION OF CARE FOR CASES OF SUICIDE ATTEMPTS IN THE PSYCHOSOCIAL CARE NETWORK

Abstract

This study investigated the perceptions of professionals from the Psychosocial Care Network (RAPS) regarding care for cases of suicidal ideation and attempts in a capital city in Northern Brazil. Using a qualitative approach, eight female professionals working in different RAPS services were interviewed. The semi-structured interviews were subjected to thematic analysis according to Braun and Clarke (2006), complemented by the use of a field diary and a word cloud. The results revealed weaknesses such as a shortage of human and structural resources in the network, difficulties in referral, the absence of protocols for this type of demand, lack of integration among services, and geographic barriers to access to care, which particularly affect Indigenous and riverside populations. The study also highlighted network strengths, such as professional engagement and the importance of more humanized care strategies that consider local cultural knowledge and practices. The findings contribute to shedding light, from the perspective of RAPS workers, on how the cultural, territorial, and fluvial specificities of the Amazon produce singular challenges for care in suicidal crises—dimensions that are still underexplored in the national literature. It is concluded that strengthening the RAPS requires investment in training, infrastructure, and integrated public policies, as well as sensitivity to regional and cultural specificities in addressing suicide.