From the beginning, there was clear recognition some indication of the scope of the work of the PPAO: that those with serious mental illness were among our •. 1983: Provided advice to the Minister of Health most vulnerable citizens. [...] In part, this was due to the na- that sections 66 and 67 of the 1978 Mental Health ture of their illness, but it was also the result of the way Act2 should be proclaimed as a further step in the in which mental health services were provided and, in evolutionary process towards eventual compliance particular, the way in which the system disempowered with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms;3 those t [...] With the publication of this spe- 4 cial report, we celebrate a quarter of a century of mental •. 1990: Made a submission to the Weisstub Report; health advocacy and rights protection, and the dedicated •. 1998: Launched a dedicated website5 as an advocacy efforts of our program and staff in restoring decision- resource to all stakeholders and the general public; making authority to those we serve [...] The PPAO and many of its stake- with the goal of improving the mental health system. [...] Yet, with the increasing shortage of gen- My best wishes to all the staff and supporters of the eral practitioners, many have been unable to find doctors Psychiatric Patient Advocate Office and congratulations and have joined the expanding ranks of "orphan patients," on a quarter of a century of setting the pace.