Groups and influencers offer solidarity cleaning at the homes of people with depression

It all started a year ago, when day laborer Guilherme Gomes, 20, was still living in Manaus (AM) and noticed that some houses where he cleaned had accumulated objects and poor hygiene.

“Instead of judging, abandoning the service or just doing it for the money, I asked the client if he was okay. That’s when they started to report to me the problems involving recent losses, depression and financial problems. Some cleanings I didn’t even charge because I saw how difficult it was”, he says.

Time passed and Gui, as he is known, began to promote solidarity cleanings when he had the client’s consent. Today, the diarist, who lives in São Paulo, has 35 such services.

Through donations, he continues the service and, with it, he became an influencer and defender of this theme that, in addition to cleaning, involves mental health.

“About four months ago, when I started to promote it, a lot of people from the country came to me. And I started to talk and show that depression, for example, is not a frivolity, it is a serious matter that deserves attention, especially from the public authorities. I do work that could be done by government officials, but that’s not what happens”, he says.

Solidarity cleaning, carried out by the influencer and day laborer, is also carried out by institutions and groups. They target those who, due to their mental health situation as a result of disorders such as depression, are unable to maintain their home in adequate conditions of hygiene and organization.

According to the Vigitel 2021 Survey, about 11.3% of Brazilians received a diagnosis of depression. The highest incidence is among women, with 14.7%. In addition to depression, other pathologies can cause these behaviors, according to Vanessa Flavarea Favaro, psychiatrist and director of outpatient clinics at IPq-USP (Institute of Psychiatry at the University of São Paulo).

“Any other psychiatric pathology that brings a loss of pragmatic abilities can make the person unable to have this self-care or the care of the house. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), which often leads to exaggerated cleaning of a part of the body or the house. In addition to accumulators, which cannot get rid of objects even if they are harmful to the hygiene of the environment “, says the psychiatrist.

According to her, in extreme cases, hospitalization may be necessary. Help, in many cases, represents relief for those who are in mental suffering.

The Voluntary Cleaning project, created eight months ago, also works on behalf of those who live in poor hygiene and organization conditions due to their mental health.

Conceived by students Julia Melhem and Mônica Garcia, who have already suffered from depression, the program works on the coast of São Paulo using donations.

“We have a team of six people and we serve a few times a month. Seeing that we can help give a fresh start to someone’s life is gratifying” says Julia, who came up with the idea to create the project after seeing videos from influencers. performing the same action.

For psychologist Tainara Cardoso, it is important that patients with depression or other pathology have a support network, in addition to professional help. The professional emphasizes that social and racial issues can also play a role in the depressive process, isolation and any other mental disorder.

“It is important to think of a path. A construction of care, but it is important that this patient is accompanied by a professional, has a listening. For free care, for example, there is Caps [Centro de Atenção Psicossocial], which will help in these cases of high complexity and psychic suffering. There is also CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy), which is more objective. But it is essential that these patients are respected, that they have dialogue, listen and understand that they can be helped”, he says.

WHERE TO FIND HELP?

• Look for the UBS (Basic Health Unit) or the Caps closest to your home
• In case of an emergency, contact Samu (Mobile Emergency Service) by calling 192
• Talk to a volunteer from the CVV (Centro de Valorização da Vida) by calling 188 (free call from any landline or cell phone nationwide) or visit www.cvv.org.br