The underlying assumptions of this book are that: partnerships are an essential component for developing alternative mental health services for black people; task-focused and process-focused approaches to achieve set outcomes are an inherent part of working in partnerships; and guidance is needed to help groups, agencies and organisations identify the components which facilitate and bring about positive partnerships. It outlines what is involved when different stakeholders work together to plan, develop and implement alternatives in black mental health service provision. It also discusses relevant development issues arising in black mental health which can be used to give guidance to new and ongoing partnerships. The publication contains an outline of service development which is aimed at specific black communities, i.e. people of African descent and origin; people who may be commonly referred to as African or African-Caribbean; and black people of mixed parentage, but does not deny the experience of inequality of service provision within the mental health system for other members of the black communities.