People with mental health problems and psychosocial disabilities often face barriers to exercising their rights and suffer a lot of shame, stigma and discrimination in accessing systems that should give people rights, including quality mental health care services. This good practice guide draws on CBM’s experience in mental health systems and service strengthening to demonstrate how mental health services can be improved. It includes examples of how CBM is strengthening mental health systems in West and Central Africa; how CBM is using the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) health system building blocks to improve mental health systems; recommendations for scaling-up mental health systems strengthening; and links to other resources.