Mental health research in primary care: mandates from a community advisory board

We wanted to obtain the viewpoints of a community advisory board in training junior minority faculty members and graduate students for community-based participatory research (CBPR) on mental health in primary care.

During training institutes, members of a community advisory board presented plenary sessions on research collaboration with communities. The program director edited the transcribed recordings of the presentations for style but not for content. Advisory board members collaborated in revising the transcripts and summarizing themes.

Board members expressed several key themes. Research must take into account traditional healing practices and prior exploitative research. Historical trauma impedes collaborations, which require conflict resolution and departure from traditional definitions of normalcy. Researchers should include communities in formulating research agendas and should take findings back to the communities for critical appraisal and practical applications. Collaborations should address policy issues including interpreter services, Medicaid managed care, and parity in insurance coverage for physical and mental health problems.

Community advisory board members present key concerns that otherwise would not enter into the researchers' training curriculum. Such an advisory board can make important contributions to programs that seek to improve CBPR in mental health and primary care.