Community empowerment is a critical element of health literacy and a key factor in health promotion ^{Footnote 114} Community development and self-help initiatives, including training in communication and advocacy, support mutual empowerment for social action. ^{Footnote 115} For mental health practitioners, enabling users to influence service development is another strong anti-stigma move: collaboration with stigmatized people on projects has had major impacts on attitudes in other arenas of discrimination. ^{Footnote 116} Advocacy is needed for health reform for better quality and quantity mental health services, ^{Footnote 117} such as collaborative care ^{Footnote 118} and improved hospital policies and procedures for treating persons with mental illness. ^{Footnote 119} Advocacy is also required for legislative change, to end discrimination against those with mental disorders in the workplace, the insurance industry, and housing. ^{Footnote 120}

Beliefs about Protecting/Promoting Mental Health

When asked how people could protect mental health and prevent mental illness, most focus group participants identified a number of strategies. Some participants argued that mental illness is not preventable because it is genetic and its appearance at some point is therefore inevitable. Some also made the point that there is no way to prevent traumatic events that could trigger mental illness.

In terms of specific prevention strategies, many participants talked about the importance of stress reduction and coping skills. Most of the groups emphasized the importance of a healthy lifestyle—eating well, exercising regularly, and not taking drugs or drinking to excess. One group agreed that it is important to have life goals. Many participants said that social support, from people you can talk to and who care about you, helps to maintain mental health. In two of the groups, participants talked about the need to live a balanced life, with equal emphasis on the mental, physical and spiritual elements. Some thought that connecting with spirit in the sense of something larger than the individual self, is healing.

The Canadians surveyed showed a similar range of responses, as shown in Figure 7. The most common responses about how to protect or promote mental health related to social support and good health habits, followed by having a medical check-up, engaging in activities for work or pleasure, having good coping skills, and being spiritual or religious.

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