THE ORGANIZATION OF THE PSYCHOSOCIAL CARE NETWORK (RAPS) AND ITS CONTRIBUTION TO COMPREHENSIVE MENTAL HEALTH CARE IN BRAZIL

Abstract

This article analyzes the role of the Psychosocial Care Network (RAPS) as a fundamental structure for comprehensive care for people experiencing mental distress in Brazil, within the context of the transformations promoted by the Brazilian Psychiatric Reform. This is a qualitative research study, developed through a literature review based on scientific literature and documents related to public mental health policies in the country. The study discusses the transformations resulting from the Psychiatric Reform, which represented a milestone in the shift from a hospital-centric model to a community-based, humanized, and territorialized model of mental health care. The advances achieved with the implementation of RAPS, responsible for organizing services such as Psychosocial Care Centers (CAPS), primary care, reception units, street clinics, and other initiatives aimed at promoting the autonomy and social reintegration of users, are analyzed. Persistent challenges are also discussed, such as insufficient human and financial resources, the fragmentation of services, and the need for continuous training of multidisciplinary teams. The study also highlights the importance of public policies directed at different age groups—children, adolescents, young people, adults, and the elderly—emphasizing the need for care adapted to the specific demands of each population segment. In this context, the relevance of expanded clinical practice and intersectoral coordination as fundamental strategies for promoting comprehensive mental health care is highlighted. It concludes that strengthening the Psychosocial Care Network (RAPS) depends on continuous investment, strategic planning, and political commitment to consolidating a care model that ensures comprehensive, humanized, and inclusive care for people experiencing mental distress.