MENTAL HEALTH IN PRIMARY CARE: PERCEPTIONS OF THE FAMILY HEALTH CARE TEAM

The present study aimed to obtain knowledge on the perception of family health care teams regarding the implementation of mental health actions in primary care. Qualitative research, with data collected in semi-structured interviews and analyzed by thematic content analysis from April to June 2013. The study included the participation of 17 workers of the Family Health Strategy of the city of Vitória da Conquista, Bahia.Three categories emerged: Perception of mental health promotion in primary health care; Difficulties /Limitations to implement mental health care actions under Brazil’s Family Health Strategy;Strategies/Interventions regarding the implementation of mental health in primary health care.The participants found it difficult to report actions targeted to the promotion of mental health and exposed the weaknesses in health production. They perceived the need to expand mental health trainingprocesses, in order to improve mental health actions developed in primary health care.