THE WORK OF PRIMARY HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS IN SUPPORTING USERS WITH MENTAL DISORDERS IN MUNICIPALITIES IN THE INTERIOR OF MARANHÃO

Abstract

The study aimed to analyze the work of Primary Health Care professionals in supporting users with mental disorders in municipalities in the interior of Maranhão. This was a field study with a qualitative, descriptive, and exploratory approach, conducted in the municipalities of Marajá do Sena and Paulo Ramos. Five health professionals who worked in the care of people with mental disorders participated in the study, including four nurses and one physician. Data were collected through an electronic semi-structured questionnaire, and the material was analyzed using thematic Content Analysis according to Bardin. The findings revealed three central axes: initial care, clinical observation, and referral as the main strategies of practice; structural and training-related weaknesses in the local network, marked by the absence of continuing education, insufficient institutional support, and difficulties in accessing specialized care; and the management of crisis situations, permeated by demands for restraint, safety, and welcoming care. It was found that professional practice in mental health, in these contexts, goes beyond technical procedures and involves clinical decision-making, relational mediation, and coping with institutional limitations that affect the quality of care. It is concluded that support for users with mental disorders in Primary Health Care, in municipalities in the interior of Maranhão, is developed in a setting of important care-related challenges, which reinforces the need for professional qualification, strengthening of the psychosocial care network, and investment in more humanized, safe, and effective practices.