Mental health in primary health care: health-disease according to health professionals

Abstract

Objective: to analyze perceptions of the Family Health Strategy (FHS) professional team about mental health-disorder and to identify health actions developed by the team for people with mental disorders.

Method: a qualitative study of a Marxist theoretical framework and a dialectical method. 99 FHS middle and higher level professionals from São Paulo participated. Semi-structured interviews were conducted. Data were submitted to ALCESTE software and Thematic Content Analysis.

Results: there were three empirical categories: Training in Mental Health; Perception of the FHS professional about mental health-disorder; and Health actions developed by the FHS team with people with mental disorders. Actions that converge and diverge from the psychosocial care model were identified.

Final considerations: there is an effort from professionals to work according to the psychosocial care model, but it is necessary to invest in the Permanent Education in Health of these professionals to overcome barriers and foster successful territorial actions.