Music, mental health and solidarity economy

an experience report with the AUFASAM association

Abstract

This article presents the experience of a university extension project that develops actions in the interface between music, mental health and Solidarity Economy (SE). The discussion is directed to a classical guitar camerata group developed by the Association for Users, Families and Friends of the Mental Health Services of Indaial (AUFASAM), in cooperation with the Technological Incubator of Popular Cooperatives (ITCP) of the Regional University Foundation of Blumenau and the Indaial Psychosocial Attention Center. Methodologically, the actions were proposed from the contributions of the Antimanicomial Struggle and Solidarity Economy. As a result, 32 essays were performed, which resulted in a repertoire composed by 11 songs and three musical presentations. The benefits derived from this experience strengthened the psychosocial rehabilitation process of its members, at the same time affecting the university context and the general community, enabling greater visibility for AUFASAM, providing free access to cultural goods, encouraging the strengthening of the university extension and the transformation of the social imaginary regarding madness. It is important to recognize the cultural plurality provided by the Camerata, by presenting erudite and popular cultural elements, by proposing to circulate in health, education and solidarity economy contexts.