“We feel that we need to and we can…”: challenges for the inclusion of mental health care in primary health care

Abstract

The Brazilian mental health policy emphasizes the need for mental health care to be included in all levels of health care, from primary to tertiary, including emergency care and therapeutic residences. This policy has guided the construction of a diverse network of coordinated and humanized assistance for patients with mental illness. Objectives: the objective of this study is to understand how family health team workers position themselves and organize their practices in regard to mental health care. Methods: focus group sessions with a family health team were used to collect qualitative data , and social constructionism was used as the theoretical framework for analysis. Results: professionals recognize that there is a need for a change of focus from the disease to the person, but this seems to be difficult to achieve. However, professionals recognize the potentiality of this need and that “there is something else that I can do”. Conclusion: the potential of the ESF can be activated through investment in interpersonal interactions and the construction of new knowledge, and the processes of change should be triggered by the whole team, rather than just the NASF and mental health teams.