The purpose of this article is to analyze mental health policy and its insertion in the planning and administration of municipalities in Espírito Santo State. It involves document research, particularly that of Municipal Health Plans from 2006-2009 and municipal Management Reports from 2005-2007. Fifty-nine of the 78 municipalities of the state were studied to identify the actions undertaken, as well as the funds provided for their enactment. The results of the data analysis indicate that mental health appears as an item on municipal agendas in the planning stages, but there is no guarantee that the actions proposed are undertaken, because the resources needed for their execution are often not provided.
Healthcare policy; Mental health policy; Decentralization; Espírito Santo