CAPS e o cuidado em território: a concepção dos(as) gestores(as)

Abstract

This paper intends to comprehend how managers of Psychosocial Care Centers (CAPS) and Mental Health Policy (PSM), from municipalities and states, understand the concept of territory, the territorialization strategies of CAPS, and how they try to implement them in Santa Maria, RS. The research has a qualitative exploratory approach, with field delineation and applied nature. A semistructured interview with the managers mentioned was used to collect the data. The results show that they understand territory in a way, both functional - a space for the care management -, and as a space for subjectivities. However, there is a fragility in CAPS relations to primary care and shared care. It is necessary to strengthen the networks and systematize joint actions of services through matrix-based strategies, that need to be perfectioned and consolidated in the city. Still, there is a search for being part of territories, articulating with networks, providing support, and creating projects. These actions, added to an efficient and well-established matrix-based support, can change the mental health care in the city. Finally, new research is suggested in the city to improve the matrix-based actions and understand how Primary Health Care develops mental health care in Santa Maria, collaborating to the qualification of RAPS. It is also important to strengthen the fight against mental health setbacks, underfunding of SUS, and even worse funding of mental health.