Adapting evidence-based interventions to accommodate cultural differences: Where does this leave effectiveness?

Evidence-based interventions are an essential part of deliveringcontemporary mental health services. Many such interventions,however, are developed with and for mainstream populationgroups. Practitioners and researchers alike will often adapt tools,practices, processes or programmes to meet the needs of culturallydiverse populations groups, but wonder if and how such adaptationswill affect outcomes. This paper considers the processesby which evidence-based interventions can be adapted by healthprofessionals in any context; and includes an example of a successfulcultural adaptation to an evidence-based intervention. Thesuccessful implementation of the Aboriginal Mental Health FirstAid programme in Australia illustrates the potential for adaptedinterventions to support improvements in the health outcomes ofpeople from culturally diverse backgrounds. The paper concludesby outlining the steps mental health professionals can take whenadapting evidence-based interventions for use in their own workplace settings.