Fourteenth International Conference on The Image

Abstract

An integral tenet of constructivism or constructionism surrounds comprehending that the knowledge building process should be shared between a social scientist and their study participants. Anti-oppressive research methodologies focus on highlighting the voices of subjects by including them throughout the entire examination process. This researcher contends that it is important to consider these philosophies when conceptualizing the mental health help-seeking experiences of preadolescent Black American boys. He argues that in order to expand upon the existing mental health narratives about this focal group requires implementing empowering and galvanizing strategies or techniques. This researcher suggests using a photo-based participatory methodology to extract, generate, and provide the most culturally honest or transparent presentation of these unique tales. The latter will help many school-based professionals (e.g., teachers, counselors, social workers, psychologists, principals, etc.) in their development of sustainable preventative efforts aimed at ensuring or producing positive mental health outcomes for pre-adolescent Black American boys. Still, a picture-based participatory examination can foster an improved relationship between these officials and the target population of children. This researcher is largely interested in the quality of mental health services that are delivered within public elementary school settings. A mutual or co-construction of this pool of information shall be instrumental to crafting an enriched story about preadolescent Black American boys and their mental health help-seeking experiences.