The last 10 years has seen a burgeoning interest in building collaborative partnerships between primary care and mental health care providers, including the integration of mental health services within primary care settings. Collaborative models have improved access to mental health care and increased the capacity of primary care to manage mental health and addiction (MH&A) problems. Successful projects in Canada and other countries have demonstrated better clinical outcomes, a more efficient use of resources, and an enhanced experience of seeking and receiving care. There are many steps that can be taken by any primary care practice or MH&A program to promote collaboration and improve access to mental health care, often without requiring additional resources. To support these initiatives, regional and provincial planners need to look for opportunities to introduce collaborative projects into their service provision strategies, fund targeted projects that will broaden the scope and knowledge base of collaborative care, and implement specific policies that will enable this work to take place. Evaluation of these projects and new research also further our understanding of the benefits and potential of these new models. In addition, academic centres and continuing education departments must prepare learners and practitioners to work in collaborative interprofessional partnerships. Above all, consumers, family members, and consumer groups must be active partners in collaborative partnerships, both when receiving care and in the design and evaluation of programs and services. If this can be accomplished, we stand to make substantial gains at the system level and contribute significantly to the overall well-being of Canadians. We can increase the capacity of our existing MH&A and primary care systems so that people with issues affecting their mental health have access to essential services in a timely manner. Collaborative partnerships within reorganized systems of care can lead to a prudent and more efficient use of resources, while supporting consumers and their families in self-management, and serve as models for the integration of primary care with other specialized services. This position paper also acknowledges that effective collaboration can involve providers from any discipline. However, because of the mandate of the Canadian Psychiatric Association (CPA) and the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC), it focuses on the role that family physicians and psychiatrists can play in collaborative partnerships, but most of the concepts and activities will be applicable to any health professional. © Copyright 2011, Canadian Psychiatric Association.