title: Developing partnerships in mental health to bridge the research-practitioner gap.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  An overview of approaches used in contemporary mental health research to consider when coordinating research agendas is presented. Connections between the research-practice gap and evidence-based practice are explored. Collaboration, as a key concept and practice, is investigated particularly in relation to community and consumer participation in mental health research.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Non-commensurate belief systems, inadequate infrastructure, and institutional tendencies maintain the status quo and constitute significant impediments to widespread planned and integrated research programs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Communication and trust building between researchers and practitioners is central to developing effective collaborations that can deliver more effective health care.
authors.affiliation: Research Unit, Concord Centre for Mental Health, Sydney South West Area Mental Health Service, Concord Hospital, and Discipline of Psychiatry, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Horsfall
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cleary
authors.forename: Glenn E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Hunt
mesh_terms: D019058:Community Networks; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016730:Program Development