Soc Sci Med. 1984 ; 19(3): 261-71.

Strategies and outcomes of introducing a mental health plan in Brazil.

Richeport M.

Prior to 1978, the majority of Brazilians suffering from mental illness had no recourse other than hospitalization in inadequate institutions. The government introduced an official plan which stressed primary health care delivery of mental health services. This paper describes the role of the anthropologist in different stages of the implementation of this plan and the research conducted in informal and formal health systems, utilization patterns, public health conditions in a Northeastern Brazilian favela and strategies for integrating formal and informal mental health resources in this favela. The problems involved in carrying out primary prevention in mental health and strategies for articulating medical and non-medical healing systems are analyzed.