Setting the stage for community-based participatory research: Lessons learned from the Minnesota Latino Mental Health Survey

Despite the growth of Latino communities in Minnesota, mental health needs among Latinos are persistently neglected by existing health services, policies and research. This research partnership was catalyzed by a community-articulated need for local data on mental health issues in Minnesota's Latino communities. Due to the focus on the sensitive issue of mental health, community-based participatory research (CBPR) emerged as the most appropriate methodology for this project. A primary aim of CBPR is to advance and integrate knowledge into interventions and social change to improve community health. CBPR may be initiated by community, university, or mutually together. In the development of this instrument, all these scenarios occurred. Engaging in CBPR, urban and rural community and academic partners shared in the process to develop the bilingual survey, seek Institutional Review Board approval, finalize the consent process and administer the survey. Based on our overwhelmingly positive experiences, we offer the following lessons learned in creating community-academic research partnerships: • Relationships based on shared power among partners are imperative and take time to develop. • To ensure cultural and social relevance of research, community participation is crucial at all stages of research. • Flexibility of timelines is critical to be responsive to unexpected situations. • A facilitative University infrastructure is optimal. • Community-based research is an opportunity for community-level capacity building.

The next steps will include ongoing community-academic partnership in data analysis and developing policy recommendations, with the vision to improve mental health services and policies serving Minnesota's Latino communities.