A pior vida é melhor que a morte? Reflexões interseccionais sobre saúde mental nos cuidados paliativos

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Palliative care can be permeated by psychological suffering, as patients and their families are dealing with life-threatening illnesses. This suffering may be intensified by intersectional barriers that hinder access to these health services, in addition to the caregiver’s burden. OBJECTIVES: Therefore, the general objective of this study is to reflect on the intersectional factors involved in psychological suffering in palliative care beyond bereavement, based on the National Palliative Care Policy. METHODOLOGY: The methodology used was bibliographic research, aimed at understanding the state of the art regarding intersectionality and palliative care. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: A significant theoretical gap was identified in studies on intersectional barriers to accessing palliative care, with little to no discussion about the challenges faced by Black, Indigenous, LGBTQIAP+ populations and individuals from low-income or peripheral socioeconomic contexts. CONCLUSION: The National Palliative Care Policy contributes to mitigating these intersectional barriers to accessing palliative care through the principles of universality and equity. However, it remains insufficient to overcome them, and further studies on the topic are needed.