The hypothesis, or rather, street children go on the streets in search of mental health, is discussed to Leite’s, Winnicott’s, Castel’s and Foucault’s ideas. Leite discusses the idea that street children are mentally healthy; Winnicott foregrounds the theory of antisocial behavior; Castel bases his theory on socially parentless concept; Foucault discusses the idea that mental illness is a positive expression of society. This hypothesis has been verified in the Assistance and Research Program coordinated by Leite and developed by the Psychiatry Institute (IPUB/UFRJ). It investigates teenager’s subjectivity through their life narratives and tries to use them as guidelines for public policies of Social Assistance and Mental Health in Brazil.
Street children; mental health; public policies