Background:

Scientific knowledge of risk management in mental health care is essential for building safer, quality health systems and improving patient safety. Although studies on patient safety and risk management in general health care are increasing, there is still little evidence in mental health care.

Aim:

To know the existing evidence on risk management in mental health care, including priority areas and intervention / monitoring strategies.

Methods:

Integrative review of literature through research on MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection data bases, including critical criteria of quantitative, qualitative approach and / or literature reviews, in Portuguese, English and Spanish, published in the last 10 years and fear as a subject of research to gesture of risk in the domain of mental health.

Results:

We found 6 articles that meet the objective of this review: two qualitative studies, two mixed method studies and two literature reviews.

CONCLUSIONS:

Among the priority areas of attention in risk management in mental health were identified: violence and self-destructive behavior, treatment errors, risks associated with the symptoms of mental illness. The selected studies also identified mental health risk management strategies such as partnership, involvement and empowerment of the user, individualized structured programs, strategic guidance at the political level, training and education of professionals.

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