Psychological interventions in the context of poverty: participatory action research as practice

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.