This study aims to analyze how caregivers working at shelters for youth suffering from psychiatric or neurological disorders express their grief. The data come from the research project titled "Violence, Youth, and Mental Health," which was carried out from 2008 to 2010 by the Institute of Psychiatry at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, and was based on 26 interviews and field observations made with professionals at one of the surveyed shelters. The study method was that of oral stories using a semi-structured script. These narratives were analyzed based on the theory of communications, which allowed categories to be defined. It was found that the conditions, organization, and work processes at the shelters are adverse and cause risks to the professionals' mental health, since they are unprepared to perform this work, in particular with patients suffering from psychiatric and neurological disorders, conditions that cause great distress among caregivers. Finally, it was fund that there is a need to provide training and permanent clinical supervision at the shelters based on the principles of psychosocial rehabilitation. Additionally, it is also necessary to drive greater integration among the tasks carried out at the shelters and those of the remaining special protection networks created for these adolescents.
shelter network; caregivers; adolescents in shelters; psychosocial rehabilitation; psychic suffering
