MENTAL HEALTH POLICY AND TRAINING OF GENERAL PRACTITIONERS IN BRAZIL: EXPERIENCE REPORT

Introduction: The care for people with mental illness is a major public health challenge in Brazil and worldwide. Different models of care present varying effectiveness degrees in social integration of these people, in medical training and the integration with the Primary Healthcare (PHC). Objective: To report Belo Horizonte’s (BH-MG) mental healthcare model and its impact on the training of general practitioners. Method: Experience report on the use of BH-MG’s mental health network as medical training locus. The educational strategy ‘Medical Practice in the Community’ is made up of eight cognitive workshops, seven practical visits, the writing of eight webportfolios, planning and implementation of educational action in the health network in 2015.2. Results and Conclusions: There are pioneering and innovation in the care of people with mental distress and in medical training (medical school and residence). Multidisciplinary teams work in Living Centers, CERSAM (conventional, alcohol and other drugs and children), Suricato and Therapeutic Residences to minimize suffering, rehabilitate individuals, families and communities using diverse therapeutic actions. The mental ill patients are treated as skilled, talented and hopeful human beings who when encouraged and supported, take flight and dignify themselves. The qualified insertion of medical students in this network frame their training, shape a new profile in the doctor-patient relationship; foster users’ self-esteem recovery and awareness of the required special care. Above all, this network attempts to develop users’ potential of improving our society.