Photovoice: Increasing Awareness through Photos

communityrelations

Community Projects/Awareness ~ PhotoVoice

Light-out-of-Shadow

To Quote Aeirmid

There is a technique in the public health literature called Photovoice. The basic idea is that you are using photography to tell a story-- and THEN you are using that story to make a difference or a change, or to raise awareness about something. I was thinking we could use a "modified" photovoice design in multiple media to help dispel stigma and to help people see "what it's like" to live with a mental illness. The awareness-raising could be done through blogs/news articles with thumbnails, posting in forums, sharing on personal journal spaces, etc. But equally as important, people would be able to express themselves and share. Nothing like a powerful picture/story to start a discussion.

To Quote from the journal of the Group Light-out-of-Shadow

"We are a group for people living with mental illness AND for people who care about mental illness and/or just want to make a difference.

While we do support one another, we are NOT a crisis group. If you are having a mental health crisis, it is critical that you see a provider as soon as possible.

Our group has several purposes:

To tell the story of mental illness in our own words
PHOTOVOICE is a technique used to tell a story visually and is usually used to advocate for change. Our "change" will be the reduction of stigma. We will be editing the technique such that artists using ALL media, written and visual, can participate.

To display and share meaningful art
Art does NOT have to be explicitly about mental illness, but it should mean something to you and be relevant to our topic.

To dispel myths surrounding mental illness
People with mental illness are NOT "crazy." They are often hurting. And they are strong, passionate, and brave people who deserve respect and support. By telling our stories, people can see mental illness through our eyes, and it becomes more humanized.

To eliminate stigma from mental illness
People with mental illness are not violent. They are not weak. It's not in their imagination, and they cannot "just get over it." Look at all we've accomplished!

To show dA and the world what strong, powerful, creative, enlightened, passionate, caring, sometimes haunted, wonderful people we are!
We will send messages of strength, hope, and triumph as well as to tell the story of the darker days. Photovoice lets us tell our story in our own words and try to make a difference."

To Find Out More ~ Scholarly Articles Regarding PhotoVoice.

dA has some sub-categories beneath the awareness category where works can be submitted. Look under "Community Projects/Awareness/2011" for an applicable sub-cat

Features from the Group's Gallery:

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