Sofrimento social e racionalidade neoliberal : contextos, instituições e atores das políticas de prevenção do suicídio no Estado do Rio Grande do Sul - Brasil.

Abstract

This doctoral thesis in Regional Development results from an investigative process into the discursive formation of the phenomenon of suicide and its prevention within the context of the hegemony of neoliberalism as the organizer of territories. The study analyzes the discourses linked to the recognition of suicide as a socio-territorial problem in the state of Rio Grande do Sul and its political, economic, and ideological consequences. The hypothesis was that instrumental reason organizes the actions of actors and institutions responsible for creating and implementing suicide prevention strategies, based on social norms that are rarely discussed in the public sphere, such as care protocols and epidemiological indicators. However, non hegemonic discourses were identified, with meanings of resistance to neoliberal rationality and instrumental action. This discovery enabled the recognition of communicative reason in the actions of individuals who view suicide as a socio-territorial problem and offer solutions rooted in the world of life, such as strengthening social and community relationships and seeking social well-being. The central hypothesis was that the recognition of social suffering is linked to socio historical processes of territorial formation, and that its rationalization depends on the capacity of the public sphere to build consensus. Thirty-six interviews were conducted with key social actors in the public debate on the topic, who occupy or have occupied strategic positions in the creation of public policies at their respective territorial scales of action. The research showed that the territory of Rio Grande do Sul has assets to promote communicative action in suicide prevention, with this meaning manifested in proposing alternatives to the clinical approach to suicide and recognizing the subjectivities of human suffering. However, the advance of neoliberal rationality in the realm of social relations tends to erase the critical meaning of suicidal ideation, reinforcing individualizing explanations and excluding the social determinants of suffering. It is concluded that, to reduce the influence of neoliberalism on suicide prevention actions, campaigns and policies should use language that is common to the territory, with arguments that make sense to actors and institutions and that engage with the emerging demands of the world of life. Adequate communication, combined with open and barrier-free dialogue, enables the creation of new alternatives for social action, thus addressing one of the most impactful phenomena of our time.