Matriciamento em Saúde Mental sob Guia Prático e da atuação de enfermeiros na Atenção Primária à Saúde

Abstract

Introduction: Post-psychiatric reform mental health care in Brazil is organized by the Psychosocial Care Network (RAPS), with Primary Health Care (PHC) playing a crucial role in receiving and managing cases. Despite this, there are difficulties in managing mental health in PHC and an overcrowding of specialized services. Mental Health Matrix Support has emerged as a strategy to integrate RAPS services, avoiding excessive referrals to specialized care, especially among professionals who feel unprepared to deal with mental health issues. Objective: To identify the actions of Mental Health Matrix Support in PHC in the municipalities that make up the 3rd Health Region of Paraná, based on the work of nurses. Methodology: This is an observational, analytical, cross-sectional, quantitative study carried out in the 3rd Health Region of Paraná (3rd RS-PR), Brazil. Seventy-three nurses working in PHC took part. Data was collected using structured Likert Scale forms, applied by telephone, recorded on the Google Forms platform and tabulated in Microsoft Excel. Descriptive data analysis was carried out using absolute and relative frequencies, presented in tables, and bivariate statistical analysis using the chi-square test, Fisher's exact test and Kruskal's test. Results and Discussion: Mental Health Matrix Support actions are infrequent in nurses' practice. Matrix support meetings take place sporadically and nurses' participation is limited. The joint consultation is the most used tool, while the ecomap is the least frequent. Family approaches are the most common mental health interventions in PHC, while mental health groups are the least frequent. These findings highlight the need to intensify Matrix Support actions and continuing education to improve the quality of mental health care. Conclusion: The results indicate that it is crucial to re-evaluate training strategies and broaden the focus of training to include aspects that directly influence the practice of the interventions analyzed. Future research should explore contextual or organizational factors that modulate the effectiveness of training in mental health interventions, especially matrix support.