Mental Health in municipalities of low development evaluative study of the RAPS in the Northeast

Abstract

This is an evaluative study on the coverage of Primary Health Care (PHC) and the Psychosocial Care Network (RAPS) in municipalities of three northeastern states that are part of regions with low socioeconomic development and low supply of services (G1). We investigated the association between the coverage rates of PHC, the supply of services in the RAPS and the profile of morbidity and mortality in mental health in territories with and without the presence of traditional peoples. For this, we carried out a descriptive study, based on a quantitative exploratory analysis of data from different databases available in the public domain. It was concluded that the G1 municipalities, in general, registered more unfavorable mental health indices in comparison to the regional and national ones. Moreover, that the low offer of services and the high rates of morbidity and mortality in mental health are associated with the presence of traditional peoples in these municipalities. We highlight the weakening of the offer of mental health care and the existence of care gaps, a situation that deserves attention since this scenario of social inequalities has been the backdrop for the increased incidence of mental suffering in the population in general and, in particular, among traditional peoples. The importance of RAPS and psychosocial care is evidenced, and the devastating effects of the progressive dismantling of the National Mental Health Policy, which has contributed to the deterioration of the health situation and the emergence of asylums practices in the region, are warned.