RUBENS BRASIL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE, UFBA

The Rubens Brasil University Medical Service (SMURB) originated in 1952 as the University Medical Service (SMU), whose objective was to provide healthcare to students at the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA). The service occupied an annex of the UFBA Rector’s Office. In 1985, it expanded its services to civil servants (teachers and administrative technicians) and was renamed SMURB. Currently, the service is located at the Professor Edgard Santos University Hospital (HUPES/UFBA), in the Canela neighbourhood of Salvador, Bahia, after its space was ceded for academic activities.

In December 2024, the SMURB Information System recorded that the service had 33,956 active registrations. Of these, 62.35% are students (21,170); 20.09% are university employees (10,213); as well as dependents (6.49%; 2,203); SUS (Unified Health System) patients (0.67%; 229) and temporary registrations (0.39%; 125). The objective of SMURB is to contribute to health promotion, prevention and treatment of diseases.

Currently, it has sought to give special attention to mental health issues. SMURB has five (5) psychiatrists and four (4) psychologists. In the field of mental health, it offers individual psychotherapy, biopsychosocial assessment, integrative community therapy (coordinated by a multidisciplinary team comprising a psychologist, a homeopathic doctor, a nurse and an occupational therapist) and psychological counselling and assessment (the number of sessions is decided on a case-by-case basis).