Participatory Visual Methods for American Indian Communities and Mental Health Conversations

Visual methods serve a unique purpose in that they help generate data that uncover experiences, knowledge, and contextual factors that lead to a greater shared understanding about a topic. We describe the process and results of one American Indian community-based organization's success using visual methods to prompt community conversations about mental health and substance abuse. We uncovered community members' mental health perspectives and experiences through visual vignettes. Our hope is that other communities and funding agencies see the value and promise of visual methods as a valid approach that promotes shared dialogue, decision making, and conversations for future generations.