Consumer advocacy and psychiatry : a major breakthrough : guest editorial

What is the state of psychiatry and mental health in South Africa - how far have we come, and what remains to be done? What is the role of an organization like the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG), and of a journal like Mental Health Matters? I'm delighted to have the opportunity to share some thoughts on these questions in this editorial for Mental Health Matters. I want to argue here that the development of consumer advocacy for psychiatry, with a focus on mental health literacy, has the potential to be a major breakthrough for the field. A local journal aimed at primary care practitioners, and edited by one of the world's largest mental health consumer organizations, is a clear example of the enormous value that consumer advocacy can bring to the field.