This article will discuss the contributions of the paradigms of community psychology, including contextual and ecological analysis concentrated on expansion of networks and individual resources; the applicability of the philosophy of empowerment; the recognition of recovery as basis for the development of communitybased services and supports in the field of mental health. The authors will also describe how a group of people with personal experience of mental illness with family members and professionals, founded an organization, with the goal of influencing the development of services and public policy in the context of mental health.
Keywords: Community psychology; empowerment; recovery; mental health; community-based services, public policy.

José Ornelas, Maria Vargas-Moniz, Beatrice Sacchetto, Francesca Esposito, Contributions of community psychology for the development of communitybased services for people with mental illness in "PSICOLOGIA DI COMUNITA’" 1/2010, pp. 101-109, DOI:10.3280/PSC2010-001009