Abstract
The reorganization of health policy in Brazil led to the inclusion of the demand of mental health into the Primary Health Care. This study aimed to identify how the professionals of the Family Health Strategy (ESF) of the municipality health service receive the mental health user. This is a qualitative exploratory study. Data were collected through semistructured interviews. Information analysis identified problems and opportunities in the process of receiving the mental health user. Supervision of professionals was emphasized as an important tool in planning mental health care actions; also it was identified the user’s medicalization under psychological distress. There are implications of social vulnerability in the development of the team work and in the user’s treatment of mental health conditions. There is little knowledge of the professionals about the users in their area of coverage, making it difficult for health surveillance activities.
