Summary

• Action to promote mental health is all about connecting people to each other, to the issue and to the community.

• Although each of the sample projects came about through a somewhat different process, the idea for each project was generated by the community, and not imposed from the outside.

• In each project, the course of action taken to promote mental health built on local resources, assets and strengths.

• Each sample project was based on relationships of groups of people, for that is what communities are built on. These groups come together in clubs, associations, organizations, businesses, neighbourhood groups and families.

• Each project involved a broad range of community members and created new relationships and partnerships. These relationships and partnerships took many different forms - both new friendships between individuals, and broader community partnerships involving organizations, neighborhood groups, local businesses, etc.

• An important outcome of the ongoing process of community and citizen involvement is community ownership. Communities need to shape their own program directions and develop and mobilize the skills necessary to manage continued efforts.

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