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Background: Rural communities face specific challenges when implementing evidence-based practices (EBPs) due to their size, remoteness from knowledge centers, and broad responsibility for the local population. Studies indicate that these challenges can negatively impact the development of best practice for individuals with serious mental illnesses.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the utilization of an RPC (Research Practice Collaboration) initiative as a strategy for translation and implementation of psychiatric rehabilitation methods in rural municipalities.

Method:  With the starting point in form of a seminar where the updated National Psychiatry Guidelines were presented, four rural municipalities from the north of Sweden engaged in an RPC process, focusing on implementing specific recovery-oriented EBPs, including Individual Placement and Support and Shared Decision-Making.

Results: In addition to confirming challenges in rural areas, the RPC process helped the participants to understand the relevance of these practices to their own conditions and ambitions for individuals experiencing mental health problems. The municipalities were able to build on their already existing strengths and achieve incremental steps towards providing improved services.

Conclusions: The collaborative nature of the RPC structure, requiring locally relevant, tailored implementation strategies, while considering essential method components in relation to local conditions, led to increased readiness to implement these practices. Research practice collaborations may contribute to the implementation of methods based on best practice in rural areas by increasing their accessibility and relevance in these challenging conditions.