The journey through mental health crisis care in the city of Rio de Janeiro

Abstract

The concept of crisis in mental health involves a complex multidimensional formulation, forged in the context of the Brazilian Psychiatric Reform, which is not always taken unequivocally by those involved. However, it is necessary to consider a network capable of providing adequate answers on how to provide care in this situation; thus, networking is an essential condition of this approach. This article discusses the management of the mental health crisis in Psychosocial Care Centers III (CAPS III) in the municipality of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from the perspective of central and local health care managers, via semi-structured interviews and analysis based on Giddens’ Theory of Structuring. This study found that the municipality of Rio de Janeiro adopts a crisis care model structured into a centralized care network and integrated network, with an emergency network highly integrated with the Psychosocial Attention Network (RAPS), especially with the CAPS III, and the crisis situations are cared for preferably in specific services. Still, from Giddens’ perspective, CAPS III have the legitimacy to provide care toward mental health crisis.