Mental health promotion is defined as a process aimed at strengthening the capacity of individuals and communities to take charge of their lives and improve their mental health. It involves strategies that foster supportive environments and individual resilience. The special feature in this issue brings together contributions from 25 experts; it presents a state-of-the-art overview and reviews a number of grassroots initiatives to promote positive mental health, mobilizing all necessary stakeholders: health and social service professionals, networks, government agencies, local authorities, associations... not to mention the citizens themselves.