INTRODUCTION:
Community Health Workers (CHWs) play a central role in Primary Health Care (PHC), working directly within communities. Work overload associated with increasingly complex demands from vulnerable populations assisted in PHC has been linked to psychological distress, highlighting the need to understand the occupational factors that impact these workers’ mental health1. This study aimed to understand work-related occupational determinants that affect the mental health of CHWs.

METHODS:
An exploratory and descriptive qualitative study was conducted with ten CHWs working in Primary Health Care Units in a municipality in Northeastern Brazil. Data were collected in April 2025 through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using content analysis. The study complied with the ethical aspects of Resolution No. 466/12 of the Brazilian National Health Council2.

RESULTS:
The narratives reveal that, although socially relevant, work has caused mental distress due to multiple work-related factors, such as task overload, role deviation, and pressure to meet targets. Daily exposure to situations of social suffering during home visits has generated high emotional strain, intensified by the lack of recognition of CHWs’ work by health services, as well as insufficient responsiveness to demands arising from the territories and lack of institutional support. Another challenge identified was reconciling work demands with personal life, often resulting in emotional exhaustion, which constitutes an important risk factor for psychological distress.

CONCLUSIONS:
Mental illness among CHWs is multifactorial, involving structural aspects and social and family relationships that compromise professional performance. Therefore, the implementation of occupational health policies is urgently needed to promote well-being and professional recognition through psychosocial support to strengthen mental health.