Trabalho, Educação e Saúde - TES (Work, Education and Health) is an open access scientific journal, edited by the Joaquim Venâncio Polytechnic School of Health, from Oswaldo Cruz Foundation.
Throughout history, Psychiatry developed psychological theories and healing models that required specific organizational settings to be implemented. With the reform movements and the emergence of the field of psychosocial care, it was necessary to rethink human resources. The purpose of this study is to present the construction of the figure of the assistant in mental health in the historical context of the Brazilian psychiatric reform. The study was conducted from the perspective of the Oral History of the mental health policy in the city of Quixadá, state of Ceará, Brazil, due to its contributions related to organizing work in psychosocial care centers. Based on the results attained through a review of the literature, rules, documents and interviews, the creation of the figure of assistant in mental health, a job done by elementary and secondary level workers is considered a contribution. According to interviewees, this position favored the reduction of the stigma related to the mentally ill; the internal decrease in hierarchy among professionals; the establishment of all workers as care professionals, and closer links and more satisfaction with the job and other workers.
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