Giving patients a real opportunity to take charge of their own lives and live as well as possible with their illness is one of the goals of empowerment in mental health. Over the past few decades, driven by patient advocacy groups, French legislation has gradually incorporated this goal. In practical terms, this involves training professionals and creating the conditions necessary for service users’ voices to be heard. Autonomy is impossible in a restrictive environment that deprives people of any opportunity to act. We must “think of healthcare services as a place where everyone works together and learns from one another.”