Using photo-voice to understand factors affecting mental health at a high school in China

A study at a high school in Shenzhen, China, was conducted to better understand student perspectives on mental health and factors that affected their mental health. A photo-voice method was used, where students were asked to take pictures corresponding to topics related to mental health and describe these photos to the lead researcher. The interviews were analysed through thematic analysis. Three main themes emerged: personal motivation and social cohesion were determined as factors that greatly affected mental wellness, whereas optimism was determined as a method of coping that was used by all participants. Although this research is exploratory, the emergent themes can be used as suggestions for culturally appropriate psychoeducation and mental healthcare practices. This research can also be used as a starting point for further research.