The link between the mental health practices and the Family Health Strategy is based on attachment, co-responsibility, in involvement and knowledge of the family group. This is an analytical study with a qualitative approach, using the oral history technique. The study was conducted with ten nurses belonging to three family health units of the West Health District of the city of Natal / RN. The study objective was to describe the health are activities for patients with mental disorders in the Family Health Strategy and identify whether the health professionals are prepared to deal with this particular clientele. According to subjects' reports, there are no activities for mental disorder patients in the primary health care network and the lack of training for nurses is as a challenge to be overcome.
Health mental; Family health; Community health nursing; Public health nursing