Citizenship and Mental Health: Possibilities For Articulation in the Work of the Psychosocial Care Network in Brazil

Objective: The study aims to discuss Mental Health based on the concepts of citizenship and the rights of people with mental disorders in the face of the process of exclusion from society. Theoretical framework: It addresses classical and contemporary theorists in the discussion on citizenship, in addition to the fight for the rights of people with mental disorders in the reality of Brazil, where a brief historical path is outlined, outlining the main markers regarding people with mental disorders over time, their spaces of exclusion and the Mental Health Policy in the country, going through the Psychiatric Reform to the current configuration, the so-called: Psychosocial Care Network (RAPS), (ordinance no. 3088/2011), legitimized by the Ministry of Health as a possibility of access and path for users in psychological distress and users of crack, alcohol and other drugs, to a network of multidisciplinary services and care in the community where they live. Method: This is a bibliographic and documentary study of an exploratory, descriptive nature with a qualitative approach. Results and Discussion: It points out possibilities for networking, based on comprehensive and intersectoral care for people with mental health problems. The article also discusses the difficulty that people with mental disorders have in moving around the city. Implications of the research: It is stated that, given the current situation, Mental Health is facing difficulties in obtaining funding and in operationalizing the service network, a fact that calls us to signal commitments regarding work focused on caring for people with mental disorders. Originality/Value: Networking, as well as this work, proposes, through investment in care technologies, to consider the possibility of strengthening public policies for Health for Mental Health.