Mental health care in Brazil: A reform analyse

Introduction: The evaluation of Brazilian psychiatric reform is crucial to policy-makers and mental health professionals who are involved in the delivery of community-based-care. This study aims to contribute to this issue presenting and discussing national data related to mental health facilities. Methods: A temporal data analyses about mental health services evolution were used. Data were obtained from: 1) DATASUS 2) IBGE 3) Coordenação Nacional de Saúde mental do Ministério da Saúde; 4) OMS. Results: The psychiatric beds rate is 2.4/10.000 inhabitants. This distribution is unequal around the country with a sharp concentration of beds in southeast. The proportion of psychiatric hospitalization in general hospitals compared to those in psychiatric hospitals remains constant in the latest 5 years. There are 1011 CAPS, including diverse categories. They also are more frequent in the Southeast Brazilian region. Despite therapeutics residences increment in the latest years, they are still insufficient to supply the disabled psychiatric beds. Conclusion: Although policy-makers and mental health professionals have made efforts to transfer psychiatric patients care from hospital to community facilities, they have not succeeded in developing a community network sufficient to replace psychiatry beds.