Distance Education Specialization: new educational directions in Mental Health in Maranhão - Brazil
Abstract: Distance education has proved to be effective in the production and sharing of knowledge in health using the Internet to break through obstacles such as dislocation and lack of time. In Brazil, the Open University of Brazilian National Health System (UNA-SUS) - educational institution whose purpose is to provide continuing distance education to professionals that work in the public health system of the country – stands out for contributing to the upgrade in the medical care offered to the community, for producing the improvement of the practices of the trained professionals, thus benefiting individuals who depend on this health system. One of the poorest areas of specialized professionals is Mental Health. To meet this demand the institution offered between 2011 and 2012 the Specialization Course in Mental Health. This paper presents the results obtained by UNA-SUS/UFMA with the Specialization Course in Mental Health in the state of Maranhão - Brazil.