BEING DIFFERENT IS BEING SPECIAL: INTEGRATION CAMPAIGN IN COMMEMORATION OF THE WORLD DAY OF ANTI-ASYLUM

Introduction and Objective: The anti-asylum national movement focuses on the fight against exclusion related to madness. To discuss, clarify and break biased concepts that lead to alienation and judgment of mental patients, medical students perform activities celebrating the International Day of anti-asylum struggle. Method: Qualitative Work experience report. Results and Conclusion: A group of twenty students of medical and nursing schools at the University of Rio Grande, led by members of the Mental Health Academic League held social activities to celebrate the week of anti-asylum struggle to alleviate prejudices and break stereotypes about madness psychiatric patients. The action took place in a foster home for children with mental disabilities, with the use of music and games as means of interaction between academics, children and caregivers. Later, brochures built by the students in discussions on the topic, explaining the objectives and the history of anti-asylum struggle were distributed on site and in streets. It was applied a questionnaire in academic and local community on topics such as the perception of the relevance of the anti-asylum struggle, the concept of madness, asylum and reintegration of patients of mental health in society. Subsequently the results were discussed and made posters to display at the university. Such mobilization of academic alloy made possible a new way to fight the celebration, focused not only for explanatory lectures but actively working in breaking down barriers between madness and sanity.