Organization of the Psychosocial Care Network in Disaster Situation: experience of psychologists who worked after the Kiss Nightclub fire

Abstract

This study aimed to know how the psychosocial care network was organized to face the demands that appeared after the Kiss Nightclub fire, in the city of Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, highlighting the creation of a new service, Acolhe Saúde. This research, that has an exploratory nature and a qualitative approach, was conducted by applying a sociodemographic questionnaire and a semi-structured individual interview. The participants were seven psychologists who worked in the field of psychosocial care during or after the emergency period of assistance to victims and family members. Data were submitted to content analysis, and they resulted in these categories: 1) First steps for care; 2) Gaps in the network and the creation of a new service; and 3) Challenges and powers regarding coping. It was possible to observe weaknesses in the psychosocial care network in the city, while the potential for responding to the demands was evident, so that actions based on existing public policies were carried out. Still, the trajectory of creating a new embracement and care device was observed. It is considered that these data can help professionals and researchers in the process of understanding challenges and creating possibilities in the constitution of care and assistance networks for populations that are victims of disasters.