La difícil y necesaria integración entre la atención básica y la salud mental en Brasil

The aim of this work was to analyze the integration of Family Health Strategies, one of the cornerstones of Brazil's basic healthcare system, with mental health policies in two healthcare units, one located in the city of Porto Alegre, and the other in Natal. In order to do this, bothinterviews and focus groups were conducted with members of the two healthcare teams and, subsequently, a formation process, articulated to the Permanent Health Education Proposal, was implemented. In the analysis of the obtained data, it could be observed that among the members of the healthcare teams of both units two therapeutic strategies prevail, in face of cases considered as mental health type: the prescription of psychiatric medication and the referral to specialists. The bureaucratic procedures of the healthcare teams hinder the implementation of other kinds of strategies and interventions.