Increasing use of psychotropic drugs and low empowerment among users have been shown to be critical factors in qualifying mental healthcare in Brazil. This study covering three Brazilian cities aimed to develop the Brazilian Guide to Autonomous Management of Medication (GGAM-BR), based on translation and adaptation of a guide developed in Canada, and to evaluate the effects of its use on mental health workers' training. Intervention groups (IGs) were formed to share experiences relating to drug treatment, starting from topics proposed in the guide. Focus groups were conducted before and after the IGs. Important changes in relation to the original text of the Canadian guide were implemented to take into account Brazilian realities. It was seen that the Brazilian version formed a powerful strategy for promoting users' active participation in managing their treatment and the mental health clinic, and that it had a positive impact on healthcare workers' training.
Mental health; Mental health workers' training; Medication; Autonomy; Psychotropic drugs
