The purpose of this paper is to examine three key aspects of consumer/survivor controlled organizations: the range of activities carried out by these groups; the impact of involvement as reported by participants; and the relative importance consumer/survivors attach to these organizations as components of the mental health system. The implications of these findings for mental health policy will also be examined. Consumer/survivor organizations are defined as being operated for, and controlled and staffed by, people who have used the mental health system. Findings of the study demonstrate the positive impacts of consumer/survivor organizations and the importance the consumer/survivors attach to them. Despite this, there is evidence that consumer/survivor initiatives do not receive the level of support that their impact justifies. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)