Conditions for empowering people with severe mental illness

We contend that people with severe mental illness can be empowered though participation in decision making when certain conditions are met. Applying the work of Joel Handler, we identify seven conditions that must be present for meaningful participation to occur. Some conditions are internal to the person, such as having controlled psychiatric symptoms and decision-making skills, while others are a function of the mental health system. We apply the conditions to an analysis of empowerment at a public psychiatric hospital. We conclude with the roles of mental health clinicians, administrators, and policy makers in creating conditions for empowerment.