This article analyzes the social practices of users, managers and employees regarding the social participation in mental health policy between participants of the II Municipal Conference of Mental Health – Intersectoral of Montes Claros, Minas Gerais. This is a qualitative research, with the realization of semi-structured interviews. The lines were interpreted by means of the textually oriented discourse analysis. The results point out to heterogeneity of conceptions about social participation. This study reveals that only the mere accomplishment of conferences about mental health does not guarantee the incorporation of several social segments in the social control in mental health policies in the municipality.
Social participation; Mental health; Qualitative research