O-35 Grounding youth mental health indigenous knowledge systems and adolescent mental health: Photovoice Findings from the IMPACT Programme in Brazil
Author(s):
PTC Jardim1 , AJ Grande, IAV Dias, MGC Godoy, MCTB Jardim, D Parmar, J Murdoch, X Zourntos, R Emmanuel, R Gibson, A Abdulkadri, P Dazzan, S Anderson, S Harding
Year of Presentation:
2026
Objective: This study aimed to explore Indigenous adolescents’ perceptions of wellbeing and distress through
Indigenous knowledge systems and to generate grounded
evidence to inform the IMPACT programme, to strengthen
Indigenous adolescent mental health promotion.
Methods: A qualitative exploratory study using Photovoice was conducted with 28 Indigenous adolescents from the Guarita Indigenous Land, southern Brazil. Participants produced photographs representing aspects of their daily lives that made them feel happy or sad, accompanied by captions. The process included guided photography, group discussions, caption development, and collective reflection sessions conducted between June-September, 2025. Data analysis followed a participatory and iterative approach, combining photo dialogue, open coding of images and captions, and thematic analysis. An interpretive framework informed by psychology and symbolic analysis was applied to deepen understanding of emotional and contextual meanings.
Results: Eighty photographs were analysed, of which 43 depicted positive influences on mental health, 35 depicted negative influences, and 2 reflected both. Nine (9) thematic categories emerged: Nature, Sports, Future Perspectives, Ancestry, Food, Important Places, Community Challenges, Abandonment, and Emotions. Protective factors were associated with connection to land, cultural practices, sports, food, and communal spaces, while vulnerabilities were linked to environmental degradation, substance use, neglect of shared spaces, and limited emotional support. The theme of Abandonment was most prevalent, expressing neglect, sadness, and weakened belonging.
Conclusion: Photovoice enabled Indigenous adolescents to articulate complex, relational understandings of mental health grounded in Indigenous knowledge systems. The findings highlight both sources of resilience and areas of vulnerability, offering actionable insights for culturally responsive mental health promotion. Integrated within the IMPACT programme, this approach supports the co-development of community- and school-based interventions that strengthen wellbeing, cultural continuity, and adolescent agency.