Abstract
Collaboration between researchers and stakeholder groups is a potentially powerful mechanism for strengthening the quality
of mental health research and for amplifying its public health impact. For stakeholders, collaboration offers opportunities
to help shape research questions; participate in data collection and interpretation; and improve local capacity to access
and use research findings. For researchers, collaboration can build understanding of what stakeholders want and need from
research; enhance capacity to frame research questions and findings in language and metrics of value to stakeholders; and
provide opportunities to contribute science-backed knowledge to decision-making processes in real world settings. Key stakeholder
groups can include the recipients and providers of care, public and private care systems, health plans, schools, family service
and faith-based organizations, correctional systems, and employers providing mental health benefits. This commentary reflects
on the path that NIMH has taken in fostering researcher-stakeholder collaboration, particularly regarding child and adolescent
mental health research. It describes the goals that NIMH set out to achieve, steps taken to realize those goals, lessons learned
from those efforts, and possible next steps.
of mental health research and for amplifying its public health impact. For stakeholders, collaboration offers opportunities
to help shape research questions; participate in data collection and interpretation; and improve local capacity to access
and use research findings. For researchers, collaboration can build understanding of what stakeholders want and need from
research; enhance capacity to frame research questions and findings in language and metrics of value to stakeholders; and
provide opportunities to contribute science-backed knowledge to decision-making processes in real world settings. Key stakeholder
groups can include the recipients and providers of care, public and private care systems, health plans, schools, family service
and faith-based organizations, correctional systems, and employers providing mental health benefits. This commentary reflects
on the path that NIMH has taken in fostering researcher-stakeholder collaboration, particularly regarding child and adolescent
mental health research. It describes the goals that NIMH set out to achieve, steps taken to realize those goals, lessons learned
from those efforts, and possible next steps.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-6
- DOI 10.1007/s10488-011-0399-z
- Authors
- David A. Chambers, Division of Services and Intervention Research, National Institute of Mental Health, 6001 Executive Blvd, Room 7164, Bethesda, MD 20892-9631, USA
- Beverly Pringle, Division of Services and Intervention Research, National Institute of Mental Health, 6001 Executive Blvd, Room 7164, Bethesda, MD 20892-9631, USA
- Denise Juliano-Bult, Division of Services and Intervention Research, National Institute of Mental Health, 6001 Executive Blvd, Room 7164, Bethesda, MD 20892-9631, USA
- Journal Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research
- Online ISSN 1573-3289
- Print ISSN 0894-587X