This study analyzed the discourse of mental health workers regarding family participation in treatment. The corpus consisted of interviews applied to 17 of the 25 professionals working in a substitutive service in a city in southern Brazil. The theoretical-philosophical framework was critical discourse analysis. The methodological device that supported the systematization of the data was the "axiological-discursive diagram". It was found that the workers expressed the importance of the family in treating user, but with representation still based on assigning responsibility and blame when the family moves away from the treatment. Gradually, the "partnership" gives way to "distancing" as a care dimension within the mental health services. It is hoped that this study will support continuing reflection on the role of families in mental health, which is an important issue in rethinking knowledge and practices relating to lunatics and madness, and their relationship within the context of psychiatric reform.
Language studies; Mental health; Mental health services