title: Psychological interventions in the context of poverty: participatory action research as practice.
abstract: What innovations of socially just psychological practice exist for mental health professionals working in the context of poverty? This article argues for participatory action research (PAR) as a new horizon not only with regard to the creation of knowledge but as a community-based practice/action that promotes the emotional well-being of people surviving poverty and other forms of oppression. After the presentation of this argument, an ongoing PAR project in a poor urban community is described. This article explores its impact on all participants through observations from field notes along with the results of a focus group in which community co-researchers contributed their experiences of PAR. Finally, key practice-related considerations and other implications for mental health practitioners are proposed.
authors.affiliation: Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA. ls2396@columbia.edu
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Lelaina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Romero
mesh_terms: D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008603:Mental Health; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011057:Politics; D011203:Poverty / Q000523:psychology*; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology