Background Proactive psychiatry requires proactive psychiatric ethics. Aim To describe ethical considerations with regard to proactive psychiatry. Method Discussion of care ethics aimed at proactive psychiatric care. Results In this contribution, we plea for a proactive psychiatric ethics, stimulating and supporting healthcare professionals in working from a developmental and contextual perspective. We describe care ethics, and show that it is in line with the principles of proactive psychiatry. We address three issues related to the development of proactive psychiatry: the goals of care; identifying risk factors; and the division of responsibilities in mental healthcare. Conclusion Proactive psychiatric ethics can be useful in identifying and discussing ethical issues associated with proactive psychiatry and thus contribute to improving practice. Tijdschrift voor Psychiatrie 63(2021)2, 150-153