[The creation of partnerships: perspectives and possibilities]

This article re-examines access to treatment and care in the current context of fiscal restriction and change in locus of care. Taking the position that the development of partnerships with all parties who work in the mental health area is an important process, this article argues that such processes are infrequently discussed. Further, creating a partnered relationship with the person with mental disorder is also neglected. The authors examine mechanisms of relationship change as care moved from large, total-care institutions to general hospitals and finally, to the community. How professionals, individuals with mental disorder and their families have been affected by this change in terms of how alliances are constituted and maintained is discussed. The authors conclude with two case examples which illustrate the reconciliation and non-reconciliation of differing points of view between all partners which likely affected clinical outcomes.