Strengthening research and evaluation at the community level: A case for consideration, collaboration and care within mental health

Abstract

Much innovation happens at the community level. Community-based services, by virtue of their setting, have proximity to consumer experiences, perspectives and needs, and often spearhead advances in community care and advocacy. Thus, leveraging local knowledges and supporting their translation across research, clinical practice and policy is integral in enabling an equitable ecosystem to enhance community wellbeing. However, research and evaluation (R&E) capacity and capability within community settings remains limited, hindering such knowledge-sharing and change. This article details a community-based participatory research (CBPR) project involving an 18-month- long partnership between academic researchers and service providers at an Australian not-for-profit eating disorders organisation to build R&E. Collaboratively, we planned, co-designed and implemented monitoring, evaluation and learning practices into service delivery. This article shares: (1) the process of academic partnership within a community mental health context; (2) critical reflections on the complexities, strengths, challenges, and opportunities of engaging in CBPR in building capability/capacity; and (3) actionable recommendations to guide future efforts. We explain the need for a systemic approach to building R&E within the community sector and provide rich examples of CBPR in practice. Our learnings hold implications for how local knowledges are created, utilised and translated, and what will help moving forward to enhance community care.

Keywords

• community-based participatory research
• community-academic partnership
• mental health
• eating disorders
• co-design
• capacity building