What does it take to get evidence-based mental health treatment to people in need? That’s a question researchers sought to answer in a newly published study in Implementation Science. “This research is critical because it is important to know which factors may influence whether those with mental health needs are receiving services that are proven to work,” said lead author Eric Bruns, PhD, is a Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington School of Medicine as well as the Associate Director of the UW School Mental Health Assessment, Research, and Training (SMART) Center.
This is one of the few studies to explore the dynamics and influences on states’ decisions toward mental health policy. The research team wanted to evaluate whether decision-making is driven by things that policymakers can control or by factors beyond their control.