Disseminating evidence-based mental health practices

Why do people working in mental health fail to use evidence-based practices? A review of the literature suggests two main barriers to staff dissemination: 1) individual service providers lack the knowledge and skills to assimilate these practices and 2) organisational dynamics undermine staffs' ability to implement and maintain innovative approaches. Given these barriers, three strategies to foster dissemination may be useful: 1) packaging evidence-based practices so interventions are more user-friendly 2) educating providers about relevant knowledge and skills, and 3) addressing organisational dynamics that facilitate implementation. Research on dissemination is less developed than the clinical and services research that has led to evidence-based practices. There is a need for continued work on dissemination if evidence-based practices are to be used in the real-world.