ABSTRACT
Objective:
to analyze the influence of two São Paulo State experiences in the choice of psychosocial care centers as guiding service providers for the national mental health policy.
Method:
qualitative, exploratory, and descriptive study using oral history as a methodology and theoretical reference.
Results:
eight professionals involved in the deployment of the mental health policy in the cities of Santos and São Paulo between the years 1989 and 1992 were interviewed. Data were analyzed after treating the narratives and grouping the most significant content. Two central themes emerged: development of the local-regional model, and the model's influence on the choice of the psychosocial care center.
Conclusion:
due to greater insertion of the Santos experience group in the spheres of the federal government, its influence on the choice of the substitute model was higher in ideological terms, whereas the São Paulo model had its influence restricted for political reasons.
Key words:
Public Health Policies; Mental Health Services; History; Nursing; Mental Health