title: Advocacy: critical component in a comprehensive mental health system.
abstract: Although rights protection and best interest perspectives are frequently viewed as diametric opposites, mental health advocacy is an important strategy in pursuit of both civil rights and therapeutic goals for people with mental illness. Independent, client-centered advocacy supports the attainment of consumer-identified goals for recovery, equality, and social inclusion and mitigates the negative consequences of stigma and discrimination. Advocacy strives to return decision-making authority to consumers and thus to empower them to play a more central role in their own care, treatment, rehabilitation, and life choices.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatric Patient Advocate Office Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, 55 St. Clair Avenue W., Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Stanley.Stylianos@ontario.ca
authors.forename: Stanley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stylianos
authors.forename: Vahe
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kehyayan
mesh_terms: D003254:Consumer Advocacy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006806:Human Rights; D006801:Humans; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D012944:Social Support