Ley 21331: nuevos desafíos de la Ley del reconocimiento y protección de los derechos de las personas en la atención de salud mental / Law 21331: new challenges of the law of recognition and protection of people's rights in mental health care

Since the dawn of the Republic, the question regarding the diagnosis, management and treatment of mental illnesses has been an unresolved issue to this day. Since before the time of the colony, at the time of the conquest, mental illnesses abounded, both in the Mapuche population - autochthonous indigenous - and in the Spanish. The presence in the river basins of heavy metals and minerals toxic for human consumption, as was originally the Mapocho River, whose waters were not drinkable and were only used for crops adopted from the Inca culture, were consumed by the population of the Spanish conquerors, who manifested various types of mental disorders, either due to the consumption of polluted water and the neurological damage that it caused them, the high levels of stress due to the same occupation and the isolation in which they found themselves and the diseases venereal that they carried, which they progressively transmitted to the aboriginal population. (1) On the other hand, the Mapuche population had magical-ritual treatments and methods to treat these and other diseases based on herbalism, phytotherapy and rituals (2) for the evil of melancholy (depression), anxiety disorders, panic attacks and schizophrenia. (3) Centuries later, when medicine and hard science are presented in society giving way to the scientific method, key people make their appearance within mental health studies, who made their way into the national and world panorama, and who, despite the dark past and the tortuous evolution of this branch of medicine, stand out figures who were pioneers and who gave rise to a reality that today continues in constant development and debate. Today mental health is an issue on the table, and Law 21331, promulgated on April 23, 2021 (4) is a response to changes in the perception that society currently has of the concept of disease, which is contrasted to the thinking and management that existed for years, decades and centuries ago around mental health

Desde los albores de la República, la cuestión referente al diagnóstico, manejo y tratamiento de las enfermedades mentales ha sido un tema sin resolver hasta nuestros días. Desde antes del tiempo de la colonia, en la época de la conquista, las enfermedades mentales abundaban, tanto en la población mapuche -indígena autóctona- como en la española. La presencia en las cuencas fluviales de metales pesados y minerales tóxicos para el consumo humano, como fue en su origen el río Mapocho, cuyas aguas no eran bebestibles y solo se utilizaban para los cultivos adoptados de la cultura inca, fueron consumidas por la población de los conquistadores españoles, los cuales manifestaron diversos tipos de trastornos mentales, ya fuese por el consumo de aguas contaminadas y el daño neurológico que les provocaba, los altos niveles de estrés debido a la misma ocupación y al aislamiento en el que se encontraban y las enfermedades venéreas que portaban, las cuales transmitieron progresivamente a la población aborigen. (1) Por otra parte, la población mapuche tenía tratamientos y métodos mágico-rituales para tratar estas y otras enfermedades basados en la herbolaria, la fitoterapia y los rituales (2) para el mal de la melancolía (depresión), trastornos ansiosos, crisis de pánico y la esquizofrenia.(3) Siglos más tarde, cuando la medicina y la ciencia dura se presentan en sociedad dando paso al método científico, hacen su aparición personas clave dentro de los estudios en salud mental, quienes se abrieron camino dentro del panorama nacional y mundial, y que, pese al pasado oscuro y a la evolución tortuosa de esta rama de la medicina, se destacan figuras que fueron pioneras y que dieron pie a una realidad que hoy en día continúa en constante desarrollo y debate. Hoy la salud mental es un tema sobre la mesa, y la Ley 21331, promulgada el 23 de abril del año 2021 (4) es una respuesta a los cambios en la percepción que la sociedad actualmente tiene frente al concepto de enfermedad, que se contrasta al pensamiento y manejo que durante años, décadas y siglos atrás existió en torno a la salud mental

Knowledge of managers on the National Mental Health Policy / Conocimiento de los gestores respecto de la Política Nacional de Salud Mental / Conhecimento de gestores sobre a Política Nacional de Saúde Mental

ABSTRACT Objective: Identify the knowledge of mental health service managers about the national mental health policy. Method: This is a qualitative study conducted with 20 coordinators, who were submitted to a structured interview. Data were categorized in a thematic analysis using ALCESTE software. Results: The results produced the following categories: Back to society: protagonism and autonomy of patients; Interprofessional team: assignments and activities; Structuring of a psychosocial care network; Challenges affecting the service; Distance between policy and practice. Final Considerations: Public managers demonstrated they are aware of the key concepts for effective structuring of a psychosocial care network based on patient protagonism and autonomy, the assignments and activities performed by interprofessional teams, and the challenges found while structuring a psychosocial care network.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Verificar el conocimiento de los gestores de servicios de salud mental acerca de la política nacional de salud mental. Método: Investigación cualitativa, realizada con 20 coordinadores, sometidos a entrevista estructurada. Datos categorizados de acuerdo a análisis temático, con ayuda del software ALCESTE. Resultados: Los resultados determinaron las siguientes categorías: De vuelta a la sociedad: protagonismo y autonomía de los pacientes; Equipo multiprofesional: atribuciones y actividades; Estructuración de la Red de Atención Psicosocial: Trabas que afectan el servicio; Distancia entre la política y la práctica. Consideraciones Finales: Los gestores demostraron conocimientos sobre los conceptos clave para la efectiva construcción de la red de atención psicosocial a partir del protagonismo y la autonomía de los pacientes, de las atribuciones y actividades desempeñadas por el equipo multiprofesional, y de las dificultades para estructurar la red de atención psicosocial.

RESUMO Objetivo: Identificar o conhecimento dos gestores de serviços de saúde mental sobre a política nacional de saúde mental. Método: Trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa realizada com 20 coordenadores, submetidos à entrevista estruturada. Os dados foram categorizados sob a análise temática, auxiliada pelo software ALCESTE. Resultados: Os resultados apontaram as seguintes categorias: De volta à sociedade: protagonismo e autonomia dos usuários; Equipe multiprofissional: atribuições e atividades; Estruturação da Rede de Atenção Psicossocial; Entraves que afetam o serviço; Distanciamento entre a política e a prática. Considerações Finais: Os gestores demonstraram conhecimento sobre os conceitos-chave para a efetiva construção da rede de atenção psicossocial a partir do protagonismo e autonomia dos usuários, das atribuições e atividades desempenhadas pela equipe multiprofissional, e das dificuldades em estruturar a rede de atenção psicossocial.

Especialismo, especificidade e identidade - as controvérsias em torno do autismo no SUS / Specialism, specificity and identity - the controversiessurrounding autism in the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS)

Resumo A aprovação da Lei no 12.764/2012 representou uma vitória do ativismo político de familiares de autistas no Brasil, mas também deu visibilidade a um enorme antagonismo entre uma parcela significativa de pais de autistas e a rede de saúde mental. Este artigo analisa o posicionamento dos diferentes atores envolvidos na controvérsia que se sucedeu à aprovação e regulamentação da lei, e procura demonstrar as razões pelas quais essa polêmica antecede à lei e não se resolve com ela. Argumenta-se que a conturbada relação entre o movimento político de pais de autistas e a rede de saúde mental pode ser mais bem entendida se tomarmos a construção e a legitimação de uma rede de "expertise" a respeito dos transtornos do espectro autista como indissociável da construção de uma identidade social e política para os autistas no Brasil. O artigo utiliza como referência teórica os Estudos sobre Expertise e Experiência, que têm como principal pano de fundo uma discussão acerca do novo regime de relações entre a pesquisa científica e a sociedade civil. Entretanto, demonstramos também que a consolidação dessa rede de expertise vem ocorrendo apesar da ausência de uma ampla rede de tratamentos especializados e de uma reconfiguração profunda no regime de pesquisa e de produção de conhecimento sobre autismo no Brasil.

Abstract The passing of federal law 12,764/2012 marked a victory for the political activism of parents of autistic individuals in Brazil, but it also drew attention to the serious antagonism between parents of autistic individuals and the mental health network. This article examines the perspectives of social actors involved in the controversy that took place after the enactment of this law and seeks to show why this controversy precedes the passing of the law and is not resolved by it. The argument is that the troubled relationship between the political movement of parents of autistic individuals and the mental health network can be better understood when the construction and consolidation of a network of expertise around autism spectrum disorders as being inseparable from the construction of a social and political identity for autistic people in Brazil is taken into consideration. The article draws inspiration from the Studies of Expertise and Experience, which discuss the new regime of relations between scientific research and civil society. Nevertheless, it is also seen that the consolidation of this expertise network has arisen despite the absence of a broad specialized treatment network and of a profound reconfiguration in the regime of scientific research and production of knowledge about autism in Brazil.

Sistema único de saúde e a reforma psiquiátrica: desafios e perspectivas / Unified health system and psychiatric reform: challenges and perspectives / Sistema de salud y reforma psiquiátrica: retos y perspectivas

Este artigo apresenta as transformações no processo de constituição da saúde mental e suas aproximações e distanciamentos com a Saúde Coletiva no Brasil, em especial entre os movimentos das reformas psiquiátrica e sanitária. Analisando os paradoxos, lacunas, impasses, desafios e perspectivas da construção da autonomia do sujeito em situação de sofrimento grave, discute como as dificuldades encontradas na desinstitucionalização psiquiátrica entrelaçamse em campos de consonância e conflito. Nesse contexto, torna-se fundamental a desconstrução e desnaturalização das perspectivas epistemológicas dificultadoras da autonomia do sujeito, cabendo resgatar importantes influências do pensamento fenomenológico que percorreram o processo de reforma psiquiátrica e continuam a se fazer ouvir na consideração da totalidade da existência dos sujeitos e no questionamento do determinismo sobre a subjetividade. A articulação de propostas de problematização e reinvenção das relações humanas nos dispositivos substitutivos permitem a crítica a uma miscigenação das concepções manicomiais nos próprios serviços de saúde mental.

This article presents the transformations in the mental health constitution process and their approximations and distancing with the collective health in Brazil, specially between the Psychiatric and sanitary reform movements. Analyzing the paradoxes, gaps, impasses, challenges and perspectives of the subject autonomy construction in a grave suffering situation, discuss how the difficulties found in the psychiatric deinstitutionalization intertwine themselves on consonance and conflict fields. In this context, it becomes fundamental the deconstruction and denaturalization of the epistemological perspective that difficult the subject's autonomy, fitting to rescue important influences of the phenomenological thought that went through the psychiatric reform process and are still making themselves to be listened in the consideration of the subjects existence totality and in the questioning of the determinism over the subjectivity. The proposals articulation of the human relations questioning and reinvention in the substitutive devices allows the critic to the manicomials conceptions miscegenation in the same mental health services.

Este artículo presenta los cambios en la constitución del proceso de salud mental y sus similitudes y diferencias con la salud pública en Brasil, especialmente entre los movimientos de la reforma psiquiátrica y la reforma sanitaria. El análisis de las paradojas, las lagunas, callejones sin salida, retos y perspectivas de la construcción de la autonomía de la persona en situación de peligro grave, discute cómo las dificultades encontradas en entrelazar desinstitucionalización psiquiátrica en campos de las líneas y los conflictos. En este contexto, es esencial para deconstruir y desnaturalizar causan dificultades perspectivas epistemológicas de la autonomía del sujeto, dejando de rescate influencias importantes del pensamiento fenomenológico que pasaron por el proceso de reforma psiquiátrica y continuar con el conocimiento en consideración de la totalidad de la existencia de los sujetos y cuestión del determinismo sobre la subjetividad. El interrogatorio conjunto de propuestas y reinvención de las relaciones humanas en los dispositivos sustitutivos permitió la crítica a un mestizaje de los conceptos de los manicomios en los propios servicios de salud mental.

El control de la correspondencia de los enfermos mentales en las instituciones psiquiátricas españolas: entre el cuidado y la censura, 1852-1987 / Monitoring the correspondence of the mentally ill in Spanish psychiatric institutions: from care to censorship, 1852-1987

Resumen Este trabajo pretende aproximarse a la legislación que ha permitido retener la correspondencia de los enfermos mentales en los hospitales psiquiátricos. Amparándose en el cuidado, las cartas eran leídas por médicos y administradores. Se ha realizado una búsqueda de los reglamentos que avalaban esta práctica en diferentes instituciones españolas desde el siglo XIX, medida ejercida por el personal subalterno por orden de sus superiores. Esta arbitraria decisión ha provocado que numerosa correspondencia permanezca en archivos de establecimientos psiquiátricos de diferentes latitudes, de modo que, actualmente, se pueden utilizar como valiosos documentos clínicos para conocer la vida cotidiana de dichas instituciones y, sin duda, la experiencia subjetiva de los enfermos mentales ante el internamiento.

Abstract This article examines the legislation allowing confiscation of the correspondence of the mentally ill in psychiatric hospitals. Arguing a duty of care, patients' letters were read by physicians and administrators. A study was performed of the regulations governing this practice in different Spanish institutions from the nineteenth century on; the measure was implemented by staff members under orders from their superiors. This arbitrary decision meant that a great deal of correspondence remains in the archives of psychiatric establishments in different locations; nowadays, these letters can be used as valuable clinical documents that help us to understand daily life in those institutions and, obviously, mental health patients' subjective experience of their confinement.

Day hospital and psychosocial care center: Expanding the discussion of partial hospitalization in mental health / Hospital-dia e Centro de Atenção Psicossocial: ampliando o debate da internação parcial em saúde mental

Summary Introduction: Since the second half of the twentieth century the discussions about mental patient care reveal ongoing debate between two health care paradigms: the biomedical/biopsychosocial paradigm and the psychosocial paradigm. The struggle for hegemony over the forms of care, on how to deal optimally with the experience of becoming ill is underpinned by an intentionality of reorganizing knowledge about the health/disease dichotomy, which is reflected in the models proposed for the implementation of actions and services for the promotion, prevention, care and rehabilitation of human health. Objective: To discuss the guidelines of care in mental health day hospitals (MHDH) in contrast to type III psychosocial care centers (CAPS III). Method: Review of mental health legislation from 1990 to 2014. Results: A definition of therapeutic project could not be found, as well as which activities and techniques should be employed by these health services. Conclusion: The MHDH and PCC III are services that replace psychiatric hospital admission and are characterized by their complementarity in the care to the mentally ill. Due to their varied and distinctive intervention methods, which operate synergistically, the contributions from both models of care are optimized. Discussions on the best mental health care model reveal polarization between the biomedical/biopsychosocial and psychosocial paradigms. This reflects the supremacy of the latter over the former in the political-ideological discourse that circumscribes the reform of psychiatric care, which may hinder a better clinical outcome for patients and their families.

Resumo Introdução: desde a segunda metade do século XX, as discussões em torno da assistência ao doente mental revelam o debate, ainda inacabado, entre dois paradigmas de atenção à saúde: o paradigma biomédico/biopsicossocial e o paradigma psicossocial. A luta pela hegemonia sobre as formas do cuidado, sobre a melhor maneira de lidar com a experiência do adoecimento, subjaz a uma intencionalidade de reorganização dos saberes sobre o binômio saúde/doença, que se reflete nos modelos propostos para a execução das ações e serviços de promoção, prevenção, assistência e reabilitação da saúde humana. Objetivo: problematizar as diretrizes do cuidado do Hospital-dia em Saúde Mental (HDSM) em contraste com o Centro de Atenção Psicossocial tipo III (CAPS III). Método: revisão da legislação em saúde mental entre 1990-2014. Resultados: não foi encontradas a definição de projeto terapêutico e as atividades e técnicas que devem ser empregadas por esses serviços de saúde. Conclusão: o HDSM e o CAPS III são serviços substitutivos à internação hospitalar psiquiátrica que se caracterizam pela complementaridade na atenção ao doente mental. Pelos seus variados e distintos métodos de intervenção, em ação sinérgica, potencializam-se com as contribuições tanto de um modelo quanto do outro modelo de atenção. As discussões em torno do melhor modelo de atenção em saúde mental mostram-se polarizadas entre os paradigmas biomédico/biopsicossocial e psicossocial, condição que reflete a supremacia do segundo sobre o primeiro no discurso político-ideológico que circunscreve a reforma da assistência psiquiátrica, fato que pode prejudicar o desfecho clínico para o paciente e sua família.

"Essa medida de segurança é infinita ou tem prazo de vencimento?" - interlocuções e desafios entre o Direito e a Psicologia no contexto judiciário / "Are measures infinite or do they have an expiry date?" - interlocution and challenges between Law and Psychology in the juridical context

A Seção Psicossocial da Vara de Execuções Penais do Tribunal de Justiça do Distrito Federal e Territórios ocupa-se do atendimento a pessoas que cumprem medida de segurança, ou seja, uma sentença judicial que as define como doentes e criminosas. Encaminhadas ao contexto judiciário, há dois caminhos a serem percorridos por elas: o tratamento ambulatorial e a internação em hospital de custódia e tratamento psiquiátrico. Nesses percursos, requisitos, como exames para verificar a cessação de periculosidade, tempo de reclusão e existência de parente que as acolha, são observados para permitir uma decisão judicial favorável à desinternação condicional, ou seja, a uma desvinculação da Justiça. Trata-se de um terceiro caminho possível. Por meio da análise de um caso emblemático, este artigo busca inquirir sobre a disciplina infligida a essas pessoas. Intenta-se, assim, dar voz a inimputáveis e/ou semi-imputáveis, pessoas consideradas inteiramente ou parcialmente incapazes de responder pelo caráter ilícito do ato que cometeram, de acordo com o Código Penal. As interlocuções e os desafios existentes entre o Direito e a Psicologia no contexto judiciário emergem como possibilidade de construção de outro discurso por elas, de uma fala que busque a aquisição de autonomia e a responsabilização.

The Psychosocial Section of the Criminal Executions Court of the Federal District Court of Justice assists people who are under civil commitment, namely a legal sentence that labels them as sick people and criminals. In the juridical context, there are two options facing them: outpatient treatment or internment in a secure hospital facility and psychiatric treatment. In these options, requirements, such as tests to verify the cessation of danger, duration of imprisonment and existence of a relative who can shelter them, are examined to permit a favorable judicial decision of conditional release leading to removal from the sphere of justice. This is a third possible path. Through the analysis of an emblematic case, this article seeks to examine the sentence imposed on these people. The intention is, therefore, to give voice to the unimputable and/or the semi-imputable, people who are considered wholly or partially unable to respond to the illicit nature of the act they have committed, according to the Brazilian Criminal Code. The interlocution and the challenges between law and psychology in the juridical context emerge as a possibility by them of building another discourse, a line of thought that seeks the acquisition of autonomy and responsibility.

Evaluación del sistema de salud mental en México: ¿hacia dónde encaminar la atención? / Evaluation of the mental health system in Mexico: where is it headed?

OBJETIVO: Evaluar algunos indicadores clave del sistema de salud mental mexicano utilizando el Instrumento de Evaluación para Sistemas de Salud Mental de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (IESM-OMS). MÉTODOS: La estrategia utilizada para responder a los indicadores del IESM-OMS incluyó: i) Revisión de fuentes documentales, ii) Aplicación de cuestionarios y iii) Trabajo grupal utilizando la técnica de consenso con expertos. Para facilitar la recopilación de la información, se elaboró un cuestionario donde los indicadores fueron transformados en preguntas sencillas. Asimismo, se capacitó a las personas encargadas de recabar los datos y se realizó un seguimiento de dicha actividad. RESULTADOS: Del total del presupuesto asignado a la salud, solo 2% estaba destinado a la salud mental y, de ese porcentaje, 80% se empleaba para el funcionamiento de los hospitales psiquiátricos. El eje de la atención de la salud mental se encontraba en el hospital psiquiátrico y existían muy pocas unidades de hospitalización psiquiátrica en los hospitales generales y establecimientos residenciales, así como servicios específicos para niños y adolescentes. El acceso estaba limitado por la centralización del sistema de atención, ya que la mayoría de los establecimientos se ubicaban en las grandes ciudades. Solamente 30% de los servicios de atención primaria contaban con protocolos de evaluación y tratamiento para trastornos mentales. Finalmente, en los establecimientos de salud mental, la tasa de psiquiatras, médicos, enfermeros y psicólogos por cada 100 000 habitantes registró valores de 1,6, 1,3, 3,4 y 1,5 respectivamente. CONCLUSIONES: Para reducir la brecha entre la carga que representan los trastornos mentales y el presupuesto asignado para su atención, se requiere de un mayor financiamiento y una utilización de los recursos más racional, considerando al primer nivel como el eje de la atención. Asimismo, será necesario ampliar el número de especialistas, capacitar periódicamente al personal en los primeros niveles de atención e incrementar la participación del resto de la sociedad.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate some of the key indicators that characterize the Mexican mental health system using the World Health Organization's Assessment Instrument for Mental Health Systems (WHO-AIMS). METHODS: The strategy for examining the WHO-AIMS indicators included: (i) a review of documentary sources; (ii) application of the questionnaire; and (iii) group work with a team of experts using the consensus technique. To facilitate collection of the data, a questionnaire was prepared in which the indicators were turned into simple questions. The people gathering the data were trained, and the activity was monitored. RESULTS: It was found that, of the total budget for health, only 2% is allocated for mental health, and, of that share, 80% is used in the operation of psychiatric hospitals. The pivotal point for mental health care is in the psychiatric hospital; there are very few psychiatric units in the general hospitals, few residential establishments, and few services targeted specifically to care for children and adolescents. Access is limited because of the centralized health care system, with the majority of establishments located in the large cities. Only 30% of primary care services have protocols for the evaluation and treatment of mental disorders. Finally, in the mental health facilities, the ratios of psychiatrists, other physicians, nurses, and psychologists per 100 000 population are 1.6, 1.3, 3.4, and 1.5, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: More funding will be needed in order to bridge the gap between the mental health burden and the budget allocated for its care, and resources will need to be used more rationally, with the first level of care becoming the pivot. In addition, it will be necessary to increase the number of specialists, offer periodic in-service training for personnel at the first level of care, and enlist greater participation by the rest of society.

El rol del psicólogo en la guardia del HIGA Eva Perón: una mirada desde lo histórico ­ institucional ­ particular / Psychologyst role in HIGA´S Eva Perón emergency room: from historical, institutional and particular views

La Ley Nacional de Salud Mental exige que "la atención en salud mental esté a cargo de un equipo interdisciplinario integrado por profesionales, técnicos y otros trabajadores capacitados con la debida acreditación de la autoridad competente"; y que "se incluyen las áreas de psicología, psiquiatría, trabajo social, enfermería, terapia ocupacional y otras disciplinas o campos pertinentes". En octubre de 2011 se inició una experiencia interdisciplinaria que tendrá implicancias en los modelos clásicos de abordaje y en la formación de los nuevos profesionales. Los tiempos actuales han dado lugar al surgimiento de patologías mentales cada vez más complejas que exigen ampliar las herramientas de atención. Las nuevas formas de abordaje determinan el trabajo psicoterapéutico con el paciente en crisis, la orientación familiar y la constitución de redes de contención alternativas que faciliten la superación de la situación que determinó la consulta. Resulta prioritario favorecer el trabajo conjunto entre disciplinas diferentes y complementarias como son la medicina y la psicología con el fin de trabajar en forma integral sobre las aristas mencionadas. En esta presentación se sintetiza la experiencia lograda con la incorporación del especialista en psicología a la sala de emergencias de un Hospital General y sus eventuales proyecciones

A Lei Nacional de Saúde Mental exige que "o atendimento em saúde mental fique por conta de uma equipe interdisciplinar integrada por profissionais, técnicos e outros trabalhadores capacitados e com a acreditação correspondente da autoridade competente"; e que "sejam inclusas as áreas de Psicologia, Psiquiatria, Trabalho social, Enfermagem, Terapia ocupacional e outras disciplinas ou campos pertinentes". Em outubro de 2011, iniciou-se una experiência interdisciplinar que terá implicações nos modelos clássicos de abordagem e na formação dos novos profissionais. Nos tempos atuais tem surgido patologias mentais cada vez mais complexas que exigem ampliar as ferramentas do atendimento. As novas formas de abordagem determinam o trabalho psicoterapéutico com o paciente em crise, a orientação familiar e a formação de redes de contenção alternativas que tornem possível a superação da situação que determinou a consulta." Resulta prioritário favorecer o trabalho conjunto entre disciplinas diferentes e complementares como a Medicina e a Psicologia com o intuito de trabalhar integradamente sobre as aristas mencionadas. Nesta apresentação, sintetiza-se a experiência atingida com a incorporação do especialista em Psicologia à sala de emergências de um Hospital Geral e suas eventuais projeções.

Argentine National Mental Health Law establishes that "mental health attention must be in charge of interdisciplinary teams integrated by professionals, technicians and other trained workers with adequate accreditation given by competent authorities". It includes "people pertaining to different areas of psychology, psychiatry, social work, nursery, occupational therapy and other pertinent disciplines". On October of 2011 began an interdisciplinary experience that will change classical models of facing new aspects of mental health and training professionals for its care. Our time has given place to new and more complex mental pathology that obliges to widen the attention tools. New ways of facing patient´s care determine psychotherapeutic work in crises, familiar orientation, and building up alternative contention networks that will facilitate bettering conditions that determined the consultation. It is a priority to favor team activities among different and complementary disciplines such as medicine and psychology to treat the patient as a whole. This presentation sintesizes experiences gained by incorporating psychologists in Emergency Room assistance and future projection of the proceeding.

Um balanço da reforma psiquiátrica brasileira: instituições, atores e políticas / An assessment of Brazilian psychiatric reform: institutions, actors and policies

O artigo provoca olhares sobre a Reforma Psiquiátrica Brasileira (RPB) na última década, após a homologação da Lei Federal 10.216/2001 e pretende suscitar o debate inadiável sobre os novos desafios que ela precisa enfrentar para alimentar ou reciclar a antiga utopia de "cidadania plena para todos, numa sociedade sem manicômios". Estaria a Reforma dando sinais de exaustão? É inegável a reorientação do modelo assistencial de Saúde Mental no Brasil do hospital para a comunidade nessa última década. Ao tomar o uso de Substâncias Psicoativas como objeto de políticas e intervenção, incorpora demandas complexas que o atual drama do Crack somente imediatiza a necessidade de questionar sua história, seus limites, sua potência. O que manterá acesa a chama de um movimento exitoso que, surpreendentemente, resiste à força do tempo e do estigma nesses dez anos da Lei? Essas e outras questões precisam ser equacionadas. Está na hora de reciclar os focos de avaliação e análise no sentido de identificar o que ameaça sua vitalidade. Esse é o desafio que a articulista e debatedores estarão provocados a contribuir.

The article takes a look at Brazilian Psychiatric Reform over the past decade, after the approval of Federal Law 10.216/2001 and seeks to elicit long overdue discussion about the pressing challenges that Brazilian Psychiatric Reform needs to tackle to promote or review the long-desired utopia of "full citizenship for all in a society without asylums." Is the Reform showing signs of exhaustion? The redirection of the care model for Mental Health in Brazil from the hospital to the community over the past decade is an undeniable achievement. Taking the use of psychoactive substances as the scope of policy and intervention, this incorporates complex demands that the current Crack drama makes it more urgent to question its history, its limits, its power. What will keep the flame alight of a successful movement that, surprisingly, has resisted the force of time and stigma in the ten years since the Law was enacted? These and other questions need to be worked on. It is time to recycle the focus of assessment and analysis in order to identify what threatens its vitality. This is the challenge to which the writer and debaters will be enjoined to contribute.

Carga de cuidadores informales de personas con ezquizofrenia: Un desafio pendiente para la reforma de la atención en salud mental / Burden on informal caregivers of people with schizophrenia: still a challenge for mental health care reform

El propósito de este trabajo fue revisar el concepto decarga de los familiares y cuidadores informales, en especialde personas que sufren esquizofrenia. Se trata de un conceptopolisémico, que se refiere a la relación entre individuosadultos, donde el cuidador asume una responsabilidad porel otro, que no pudo anticipar, que no es remunerada, elque es objeto del cuidado, está discapacitado y no puedemantener obligaciones recíprocas que son las socialmenteesperadas para una relación entre adultos. Se diferencianlos aspectos objetivos (disminución del tiempo libre,atención y cuidados, efectos negativos en la salud, costoseconómicos, etc.) y subjetivos (distrés emocional) de estacarga del cuidado. Los pocos estudios realizados tienden amostrar que es un problema frecuente y relevante, que seha hecho más visible durante los procesos de reforma a laatención psiquiátrica, producto de un rol más importante yun mayor empoderamiento de estos cuidadores informales.Se revisan los diferentes factores que se asocian a la magnitudde esta carga, destacando aquellos que se refieren a losservicios sanitarios y a la importancia de entregar acciones depsicoeducación, terapéuticas y de apoyo a quienes asumenel cuidado de estos pacientes.

Acute mental health care according to recent mental health legislation Part II. Activity-based costing

Objective: This is the second of three reports on the follow-up review of mental health care at Helen Joseph Hospital (HJH). Objectives for the review were to provide realistic estimates of cost for unit activities and to establish a quality assurance cycle that may facilitate cost centre management. Method: The study described and used activity-based costing (ABC) as an approach to analyse the recurrent cost of acute in-patient care for the financial year 2007-08. Fixed (e.g. goods and services; staff salaries) and variable recurrent costs (including laboratory'; 'pharmacy') were calculated. Cost per day; per user and per diagnostic group was calculated. Results: While the unit accounted for 4.6of the hospital's total clinical activity (patient days); the cost of R8.12 million incurred represented only 2.4of the total hospital expenditure (R341.36 million). Fixed costs constituted 90of the total cost. For the total number of 520 users that stayed on average 15.4 days; the average cost was R1;023.00 per day and R15748.00 per user. Users with schizophrenia accounted for the most (35) of the cost; while the care of users with dementia was the most expensive (R23;360.68 per user). Costing of the application of World Health Organization norms for acute care staffing for the unit; projected an average increase of 103in recurrent costs (R5.1 million); with the bulk (a 267increase) for nursing. Conclusion: In the absence of other guidelines; aligning clinical activity with the proportion of the hospital's total budget may be an approach to determine what amount should be afforded to acute mental health in-patient care activities in a general regional hospital such as HJH. Despite the potential benefits of ABC; its continued application will require time; infrastructure and staff investment to establish the capacity to maintain routine annual cost analyses for different cost centres

A situation analysis of mental health services and legislation in Ghana: challenges for transformation

Objective: To conduct a situation analysis of the status of mental health care in Ghana and to propose options for scaling up the provision of mental health care. Method: A survey of the existing mental health system in Ghana was conducted using the WHO Assessment Instrument for Mental Health Systems. Documentary analysis was undertaken of mental health legislation; utilizing the WHO Legislation checklists. Semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with a broad range of mental health stakeholders (n=122) at the national; regional and district levels. Results: There are shortfalls in the provision of mental health care including insufficient numbers of mental health professionals; aging infrastructure; widespread stigma; inadequate funding and an inequitable geographical distribution of services. Conclusion: Community-based services need to be delivered in the primary care setting to provide accessible and humane mental health care. There is an urgent need for legislation reform; to improve mental health care delivery and protect human rights

Acute mental health care and South African mental health legislation Part 1- morbidity, treatment and outcome

Objective: This is the first of three reports on a follow-up review of mental health care at Helen Joseph Hospital (HJH). In this first part; qualitative and quantitative descriptions were made of the services and of demographic and clinical data on acute mental health care users managed at HJH; in a retrospective review of clinical records over a four year period. Objectives for this review were to provide information on mental health care outcome; to do a cost analysis and to establish a quality assurance cycle that may facilitate a cost centre management approach. The operational areas identified were service delivery; teaching; and research. Activities within each area were in-patient care; out-patients and consultation/liaison; under- and postgraduate teaching and self initiated or contract research. Method: The study reviewed the existing mental health care program and activities in context of relevant policy and legislation. Results: Norms from a World Health Organization model for acute mental health care showed that significant staff shortages existed; especially for nursing. A total of 520 users were admitted for in-patient mental health care during the financial year 2007/08. The average length of stay was 15.4 days and ranged from 1 to 85 days. Ninety users (17) had an extended period of stay of 25 days and more; while 39 users had multiple admissions during the 12 month period. The most common Axis I diagnoses made were schizophrenia n=138 (29); substance-related conditions n=99 (21) and bipolar mood disorder n=69 (14). After discharge; 139 users (27) were referred back to the HJH out-patient department for follow-up. Conclusion: The information from these reports may be used in the allocation of adequate resources to align this acute unit with its responsibilities according to recent legislation