This study discusses the implementation of Matrix Support in Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil, through analysis of documents and semi-structured interviews. Results indicate that Matrix Support evolved over time to provide community services that reflect local reality, enabling the integration of mental health into primary care practices as well as boosting reduction in the number of psychiatric hospital admissions. Results suggest that the use of collaborative spaces to evaluate Matrix Support network and the services it provides helps to ensure that this strategy is not lost in hierarchies and specialisms.
Keywords: Matrix Support; mental health; primary care; psychosocial care centre.
© The Author(s) 2016.