In accordance with the provisions of the State Law on Persons with Mental Illness (PsychKG), the state capital of Mainz established a Psychiatric Advisory Board in the mid-1990s.

Its purpose is to advise and support the municipality in all matters related to community-based psychiatric care and to represent the interests of citizens with mental illness and mental disabilities. The committee discusses developments, care-related issues, and questions of cooperation within the framework of care provision and prepares the groundwork for necessary policy decisions. There is close cooperation with the Community Psychiatric Network of the City of Mainz and its subcommittees.

The term of office for the Psychiatric Advisory Board is five years, in line with the cycle of local elections. It meets at least twice a year under the leadership of the Coordination Office for Community-Based Psychiatry.

In addition to the city’s health commissioner, the Advisory Board includes, in particular, representatives of organizations involved in psychiatric care—including service providers and funding agencies—as well as representatives of people with mental illness and their families. From the political side, all factions of the City Council are represented. Dr. Niels Marg serves as chair; the vice chairs are Hans-Wilfried Zindorf and Dr. Kay-Maria Müller.