You’ve successfully put a new program or practice in place to help clients with mental health or addiction problems. Now what? In healthcare settings, putting evidence into practice is one thing; sustaining it is another. While there are many definitions of sustainability, it can be broadly understood as the continuation of most or all of an intervention after it has been implemented. Research shows that sustaining new interventions is possible, but putting it in place doesn’t automatically guarantee it will be sustainable over the long term. It’s more common for some aspects of an intervention to be sustained or for the intervention to be adapted than it is for all aspects of the intervention to be sustained over time.
In the latest EENet evidence brief, we look at how to sustain an intervention to ensure the benefits extend beyond its initial implementation. To read it go to the EENet website.