mental health has been traditionally neglected and underfunded especially when the significant burden of disease accountable to mental disorders is considered and there is a need for governments to keep mental health high on the health agenda a number of key stakeholders are involved including governments at various administrative levels user and carers organisations and professional organisations and this chapter considers their various roles mental health policy makers are using a variety of tools to improve mental health systems and lead systemwide improvements including legislative frameworks mental health strategies and vertical initiatives to deliver mental health services to target population groups