Mental helath - Primary care: a promissory relationship

The reform movements of the health care and mental health (in Brazil, Reforma Sanitária and Reforma Psiquiátrica), starting in the 1970’s, during the military regimen, provided us with a rich legacy and also with greater responsibility. There was a giant political task which, together with other simultaneous actions, championed greater freedom and respect for human rights. This represents the work of many hearts and minds which are still fighting for the construction of a model of universal health care. From these movements’ basis, Brazilian society has understood a new way of working in the health realm with equity, in spite of advancements and drawbacks of this historical process, looking for an integral and democratic access to health care. We understand revolutions as permanent changing processes, which imply that such transformations will never be finished because society is dynamic and will always demand solutions for new challenges that will be generated. The historical path in which these movements walk testify the impossibility of dissociate basic knowledge unmasking the false dichotomy between Mental Health and Public Health.