Study on mental health care practices in the primary care: the case of a municipality in the state of Rio de Janeiro

Objective  This study aimed to understand/discuss the development of approaches that emerged as demands on mental health in the physician practice in these health facilities. The research was guided by three analytical categories comprised by: the practice of medical professionals who assist users of the Family Health Strategy; the relationship with mental health issues, the ability of a more holistic view of the community attended and the relationship with the use of psychopharmacological drugs.

Methods  We conducted semi-structured interviews with medical professionals and the data collected was analyzed using discourse analysis. The texts were read thoroughly and broken down into fragments that were grouped by themes matching the study intentions and objectives.

Result  The study showed, among others, that the relationship doctors-assisted community in general is still connected to a clinic-institutional vision that does not favor some issues of identity, culture and social movements in the communities. We noted the lack of practices aimed at the empowerment of the subjects on their living conditions, health and subjectivity.

Health Practices; mental health; primary care