Centro de Investigación para la Salud en América Latina (CISeAL), Medicine Faculty, Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador, Nayón 170530, Ecuador.
Centro de Investigación para la Salud en América Latina (CISeAL), Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador, Nayón 170530, Ecuador.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Jan 26;20(3):2205. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20032205.
Mental health in adolescence is a very important topic worldwide, especially in rural areas. The implementation of Participatory Action Research (PAR) through the photo-voice method was a way to encourage adults to recognize problematic situations (at personal, family or community levels) that threaten the well-being of adolescents, but that in everyday life may go unnoticed by parents and caregivers. Our study aimed to identify risk factors for mental health in adolescents living in rural communities of Ecuador from the parental perspective through photographs and focus group discussions. The study sought to raise awareness of this issue at the family and community levels. The photo-voice method was conducted with the participation of 29 parents. The photographs and the collaborative construction of meanings allowed parents to have a better understanding about the importance of mental health and its benefit for adolescents. The principal risk factors mentioned by parents were stress, sleep deprivation, tiredness, poverty, difficulties in continuing education and alcohol consumption. In conclusion, we point out the importance of this intervention to explore the knowledge and understanding of the topic by parents as well as to communicate information that demystifies false beliefs around mental health.
青少年心理健康是一个全球性的重要议题，尤其是在农村地区。通过摄影-声音方法实施参与式行动研究（PAR），是一种鼓励成年人认识到威胁青少年福祉的问题情况（在个人、家庭或社区层面）的方式，但在日常生活中，这些问题可能会被父母和照顾者忽视。我们的研究旨在从父母的角度出发，通过照片和焦点小组讨论，确定生活在厄瓜多尔农村社区的青少年心理健康的风险因素。该研究旨在提高家庭和社区层面对此问题的认识。摄影-声音方法有 29 名家长参与。照片和合作构建意义使家长更好地理解心理健康的重要性及其对青少年的益处。家长提到的主要风险因素包括压力、睡眠不足、疲劳、贫困、继续教育困难和饮酒。总之，我们指出了这种干预措施的重要性，以探索父母对该主题的知识和理解，并传达关于心理健康的误解的信息。
