SOCIAL ACTION

One of APPsiRH’s areas of action is promoting the psychological well-being of the community.

Aware of the growing economic difficulties faced by Portuguese families, which hinder access to basic health and other services, APPsiRH, in partnership with other organisations, promotes activities and projects aimed at this population.

APPsiRH’s social project does not seek to follow the prevailing welfarist-paternalistic approach, but rather to move ever closer to a modus operandi that is critical and transformative. Charitable, welfarist-paternalistic models characterise forms of intervention that aim to maintain the social order by improving living conditions without the active participation of the group concerned. This perspective places the client group in the position of someone who needs to be assisted and helped, disregarding the possibilities of mobilising for self-management and autonomy.

In the critical-transformative perspective adopted by APPsiRH, the aim is to foster the autonomy of groups so that they can genuinely take on their role as subjects of their own history. From this perspective, the psychologist seeks to share knowledge and practices with society, linking needs with concrete possibilities for action.

These dynamics strengthen the resources that enable groups to take on a leading role, giving new meaning to and transforming everyday life.