Advocating for persons who are mentally ill: A history of mutual empowerment of patients and profession

The author reviews the history of advocacy for mentally ill individuals. Th rough organizations such as the National Mental Health Association and the National Alliance for the Mentally ill, collaboration among professionals, consumers, and concerned citizens is enhanced. The common causes and differ ences among organizations are discussed within the context of how psychiatr ists can realize leadership strategies to further advance advocacy for ment ally ill persons and for the profession.