Many books have described the population of long term mental health service users, the services that they need, and how these might be organised. This book concentrates specifically on working as allies with individuals who are seriously disabled by ongoing mental health problems on a day-to-day basis, enabling the user to gain control of their own destiny as far as is possible. Emphasis is placed on understanding the experience of mental health problems, the effects that these can have on a person's life, and the ways in which acceptable and effective support can be provided. This book succeeds in describing the experience of serious and enduring mental health problems and what these mean to the individuals concerned. It explores factors which hinder and promote effective relationship formation between mental health workers and service users. It outlines specific interventions and approaches to helping people who experience serious long term mental health problems and considers the ways in which users can gain access to ordinary roles and relationships in the community.