Metrics details. Community-based primary mental health care is recommended in low and middle-income countries. Due to mental health problems, psychosocial vulnerability and accessibility, Matrix Support teams are being set up to broaden the professional scope of primary care. This paper aims to analyse the perceptions of health professionals and managers about the integration of primary care and mental health.
In this mixed-method study 18 health managers and 24 professionals were interviewed from different primary and mental health care services in Rio de Janeiro. A semi-structured survey was conducted with closed questions ranging from 1 to 5 and one open-ended question, to evaluate: access, gateway, trust, family focus, primary mental health interventions, mental health records, mental health problems, team collaboration, integration with community resources and primary mental health education.
Qualitative data were subjected to Framework Analysis. Qualitative data revealed an acceptance of mental health and primary care integration, but a lack of communication between institutions.
The Mixed Method demonstrated that interviewees consider mental health and primary care integration as a requirement of the system, while their perceptions and the model of work produced by the institutional culture are inextricably linked. The integration of different processes of work entails both rethinking workforce actions and institutional support to help make changes. Peer Review reports. Mental health problems [ 1 ] are a challenge to public health systems, especially in low and middle-income countries LAMIC [ 2 , 3 ].
Studies [ 4 , 5 ] have demonstrated that they are associated with important economic and social problems regarding global health and the impact of sustainable development [ 6 ].
