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The survey asked attenders at two day hospitals to rate how helpful they found different components of their therapeutic programme. One of the day hospitals was established for short‐term attendance, the other provided rehabilitation and support for long‐term attenders, who tended to be male and psychotic. The results revealed that the short‐term unit attenders rated talking to nurses as more helpful than any other activity, whilst long‐term users, in contrast, valued vocational placements and material resources. The survey was subsequently re‐administered in one unit and the results were shown to be statistically reliable. The findings are discussed with reference to how they have been used so far to improve the service in one of the day hospitals. It is concluded that the views of day attenders are an important factor in developing a quality community mental health service.

The Public Advisory Council on Information Highway Policy (PACIHP) project is discussed in terms of activities, difficulties, successes, impact, motivations, and background. This paper is presented in two parts. The first part details how project organizers have attempted to involve the online community in the policy‐making process, the techniques used, and the community′s and policymakers′ response to the initiative. Some preliminary observations about the project′s impact are also discussed. The second part presents an overview of the Canadian regulatory and political environment. The specific trends identified have contributed to the authors′ concerns, providing some of the motivation for the project. In conclusion, thoughts on the future of computer‐mediated communication and its potential for democratizing politics are presented.