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27 - LITERACIA EM SAÚDE MENTAL NA ADULTEZ EMERGENTE: IMPLICAÇÕES PARA A ENFERMAGEM COMUNITÁRIA

Doi: 10.47094/IIICOLUBRASMU.2026/RS/32

PALAVRAS CHAVE: Procura de ajuda. Autocuidado emocional. Vulnerabilidade psicossocial.

KEYWORDS: Help-seeking. Emotional self-care. Psychosocial vulnerability.

ABSTRACT:
Introduction: Emerging adulthood is a phase marked by increased autonomy, role redefinition, and exposure to academic, professional, and social demands that can heighten emotional vulnerability. In this context, mental health literacy is particularly relevant, as it fosters the early recognition of signs of distress, the reduction of stigma, and the appropriate seeking of support. However, access to information does not always translate into effective self-care behaviors or the timely seeking of professional help. Objective: To analyze the relationship between mental health literacy, stigma, help-seeking, and emotional self-care among young adults, while reflecting on the contributions of Community Nursing. Methodology: A theoretical-conceptual study was conducted, based on a narrative literature review. The bibliographic search covered PubMed, EBSCOhost, Scopus, and Web of Science, using terms related to mental health literacy, young adults, stigma, help-seeking, self-care, and community nursing. Priority was given to relevant publications in Portuguese and English, including seminal works on emerging adulthood and Dorothea Orem’s Self-Care Deficit Theory. Results: The literature shows that mental health literacy goes beyond knowledge about disorders, integrating skills related to recognition, information assessment, and resource mobilization. Social stigma, self-stigma, difficulty expressing distress, and a preference for informal networks can delay access to care, even when the young person recognizes the existence of a problem. In light of Orem’s theory, mental health literacy can be understood as a resource that facilitates self-care agency. Community Nursing can foster the transition from knowledge to action through strategies based on proximity, clear communication, supportive education, and guidance toward mental health services. Final Considerations: Promoting mental health literacy during emerging adulthood entails going beyond the mere transmission of information; it involves empowering young people to recognize, communicate, and manage emotional distress, while fostering autonomy, resilience, and early help-seeking.

Autores

  • Bruno Miguel Costa Santos

  • Carmen Castro Calvo

  • Maria Rita Rodriguez Romero

  • Romina Cabezas Fernandez

  • Ángela López Oujo

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