Mental health in Primary Care: identification and organization of care in the state of São Paulo

Abstract

This article aimed to describe and to discuss how mental health care is identified and organized in Primary Care services in São Paulo state. In order to do this, the study was based on a quantitative and descriptive cross-sectional study, carried out through a telephone survey in Primary Health Care services in the state. Data were analyzed according to the size of the city and to the presence of at least one Mental Health professional in the services. The results reiterate the high frequency with which demands for mental health appear in Primary Care services, and indicate: low proactivity in the search for problems in mental health; exchange of prescriptions and a more biomedical perspective as relevant to the identification of problems; low care planning and little coverage in the intersectoral articulation. It also reveals the importance of the presence of mental health professionals in qualifying care and strengthening psychosocial actions. The services in São Paulo city proved to be potent in identifying, organizing care, psychosocial management of problems, and intersectoral articulation. Small cities stood out by the presence of mental health professionals and by using home visiting by community health agents in identifying problems.