摘要:This research aimed to map out strategies to support social and political-social organization involving users, families and professionals of mental health services in the region northeast Brazil. We conducted an active search for leaders and professionals as well as bibliographic research, consultation documents and publicity material. We identified 08 associations located in cities large and medium-sized, which were characterized as to its composition, time of foundation, sources of financial support, activities, level of formalization and relationship with the proposals for reform. The study shows that these initiatives are an important strategy of political participation and have contributed to widening the debate on the reform of psychiatry, but face financial, organizational and accession of new participants.