Abstract
This study had the objective of evaluating the profile of children referred to mental health services and of discussing the impact of functional problems presented at school, which may be neglected by the Brazilian public policies. Data from 160 schoolchildren, of both genders, was collected from their respective caretakers in three mental health services using two instruments: an identification form to characterize the participants, the caretakers, the social-demographic profile, the person responsible for the referral and demand; and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) for children and adolescents between 6 and 18 years of age. Data obtained showed a high demand due to emotional/behavioral difficulties combined with learning, relationship and daily life difficulties named functional disorders by the Brazilian Ministry of Education and Culture (MEC) and not attended by the special education policies, which were referred by health centers and not mainly by the school, which would be the standard. Except for the referral, data is consistent with the literature, which points out a high incidence of these difficulties in children and adolescents, creating academic barriers and problems that have a great impact throughout their academic and personal lives. In this regard, intervention models based in schools have increasingly widened the concept of inclusion and offered promising alternatives of alliances between schools and mental health services, which may inspire future public policies in the area.
Keywords:
emotional problems; behavioral problems; mental health services; childhood and adolescence; educational inclusion policies
