Abstract:

This research sought to answer the following question: How to address preventive mental health and at the same time generate support networks in the population? For the present research we understand preventive mental health as self-care, considered important to address during the pandemic. Therefore, we thought of a proposal that would allow the attention and involvement of the population in self-care using technology.

The Villamoto Human Settlement was chosen, which has a vulnerable population of more than 1,600 inhabitants approximately and is made up of many young people between 21 and 31 years of age. It is in the district of Ventanilla, in the Callao Region of Peru. The idea was to work on self-care aimed at young mothers. To carry it out, we considered a student of our master’s degree in Integration and Educational Innovation of Information and Communication Technologies, Stephanie Vásquez, a psychologist by training and with experience in vulnerable contexts and non-formal education, who was interested in carrying it out as part of her thesis.

It was proposed to the student to be an innovation proposal, which is one of the modalities for the graduation of our master's degree, this would allow her to analyze and carry out the proposal at the same time. The design and execution took an average of two years, 2020-2021. Its implementation through a pilot experience was in the second semester of the year 2021.

The proposal included for its development the phases of sensitization and coordination with the leaders of the area, design, and implementation. For implementation, a six-week pilot experience was developed that included synchronous and asynchronous sessions. Various technological resources were used for the sessions. Eight women leaders from the area participated in the experience by free choice.

The conclusions of the pilot experience indicate that the self-care proposal developed with a practical and preventive approach considerably increased attendance, participation and networking by the same leaders involved in the experience.

Likewise, the presentation of short sessions using the technology most used by them, with topics that respond to their interests, presented in a novel way in a simple and easy to understand language, allowed them to understand and disseminate them through the networks created by them.

The work with the group of eight leaders generated mutual care and respect to share their experiences and concerns. They expressed that they found answers to their concerns and that this motivated them to create networks of women in the area and beyond, and even incorporated friends, family, and children in the distance sessions. They also disseminated self-care information at the school their children attend. This shows us that technology, if well used, is an excellent training alternative for prevention and involvement of women in non-formal education in highly vulnerable contexts.

Keywords:

Self-care, technological media, vulnerable contexts.