Communities, health-care organizations and the contingencies and contradictions of engagement: A case study from Chile.

Context: Despite a growing interest in service-user involvement in mental health services, the interaction between health institutions and local groups is only beginning to receive attention, particularly in global south settings.

Objective: Looking at a participatory initiative in Chile, this study explores how, under unfavourable administrative conditions, health organizations approach and work with communities.

Methods: We interviewed policy-makers (5), local professionals (10), service users and community representatives (6) linked to a concrete participatory initiative.