Abstract

Evidence-based practice (EBP) is one of the six cross-cutting themes of the World Health Organization’s Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan (World Health Organization (WHO), 2013). This fact should not be surprising to those of us in the developed world who are involved in mental health research, education and practice since it has been a principle guiding the way in which we work for several decades. When thinking globally, however, it is important for us in the developed world to remember that our perspectives on EBP are framed by certain advantages – well-funded health, research and education facilities in particular – that persons in the developing world do not necessarily enjoy. Consequently, while the principal aim of this chapter is to examine the role that EBP can play in identifying and delivering effective, patient-centred mental health care, taking a global rather than Western or developed-world perspective also necessitates some discussion of the difficulties that our colleagues in less-developed countries might face when trying to implement EBP.