The Role of Implementation Science in Reducing Sexual and Gender Minority Mental Health Disparities

Owing to multiple and multilevel ecological factors, sexual and gender minority (SGM) populations exhibit persistent mental health disparities. SGM populations are also at increased risk for never being reached by evidence-based mental health care in real-world settings, which is essential for reducing these disparities. To be maximally effective in reducing these disparities, we must strive to bring our research findings into routine clinical care quickly. Implementation science can help SGM health researchers achieve this goal. This perspective outlines how researchers can use implementation science theories and methods to reduce SGM mental health disparities more efficiently and more durably.