Table of contents -- Preface -- Executive summary -- Aims and target audiences -- 1. What is advocacy and why is it important? -- 1.1 Concept of mental health advocacy -- 1.2 Development of the mental health advocacy movement -- 1.3 Importance of mental health advocacy -- 2. Roles of different groups in advocacy -- 2.1 Consumers and families -- 2.2 Nongovernmental organizations -- 2.3 General health workers and mental health workers -- 2.4 Policy-makers and planners -- 3. How ministries of health can support advocacy -- 3.1 By supporting advocacy activities with consumer groups, family groups and nongovernmental organizations -- 3.2 By supporting advocacy activities with general health workers and mental health workers -- 3.3 By supporting advocacy activities with policy-makers and planners -- 3.4 By supporting advocacy activities with the general population -- 4. Examples of good practices in advocacy -- 4.1 Brazil -- 4.2 Italy -- 4.3 Uganda -- 4.4 Australia -- 4.5 Mexico -- 4.6 Spain -- 4.7 Mongolia -- 5. Barriers and solutions to supporting advocacy from ministries of health -- 5.1 Resistance to advocacy issues from policy-makers and planners -- 5.2 Division and friction between different mental health advocacy groups -- 5.3 Resistance and antagonism from general health workers and mental health workers -- 5.4 Very few people seem interested in mental health advocacy -- 5.5 Confusion about the theories and rationale of mental health advocacy -- 5.6 Few or no consumer groups, family groups or nongovernmental organizations dedicated to mental health advocacy -- 6. Recommendations and conclusions -- 6.1 Countries with no advocacy groups -- 6.2 Countries with few advocacy groups -- 6.3 Countries with several advocacy groups -- Definitions -- Further reading -- References.