When we think of traditional methods of mental health therapy we think of counselling, hypnotherapy and cognitive behavioural therapy. Whilst these methods do provide immense help to so many people what they all rely on is a patients willingness and confidence to verbally express their issues. One of the reasons why mental health is such a big problem is the fact that the initial process of orally articulating your thoughts can be such a difficult thing to do yet it’s something we are comforted will help us. Whilst speaking is part of the process it doesn't necessarily have to be the first and only port of call.
Therapy doesn't have to be conventional. Mental Health Therapy is anything that helps us to control our mind to help us become better versions of ourselves. For me, photography has been one of the best practices for this. Whilst I never necessarily attributed the label of ‘therapy’ to my hobby of photography, its benefits fit the criteria and is something that has proven effect.
There are two main types of effective treatment via photography:
Therapeutic Photography
The technique involves self-conducted and self-initiated photo-based activities, where a person or a group takes photos as a form of therapy. This form of therapy doesn't involve a recognised therapist or councillor and doesn't even include moulded ‘therapy sessions’. It's important to note that this form of therapy isn't restricted to just taking photos. The process of analysing photos, discussing photos and visualising photos are also valuable activities.
PhotoTherapy
This form of therapy is very similar. Phototherapy involves using personal photos, images shot by other people, and photo albums of the person concerned in therapy practices. The photos are used to help a person express feelings, thoughts, emotions, and even remember important incidents that are otherwise difficult to explain in words.
I can vouch for the fact that therapeutic photography, in particular, helps to sustain a sense of self-worth. For me, I struggled with the idea of identity. Who am I, Why am I important, how am I valuable. Thoughts, however solidified or fleeting; we all have. Photography gave me my identity and answered some of the questions that had been troubling me. It helped me to channel my pain into something positive allowing me to communicate my thoughts and feelings in a way that wasn't stunted by stigma as our spoken words can be.
Examples of my work
This idea of finding another avenue to communicate away from spoken language is why this form of therapy is so important. We very often overshadow the idea that young children can suffer from mental health issues yet in any given year, 20% of American children will be diagnosed with a mental illness. With children as young as five suffering from mental illness its obvious that oral communication can't be the only option.
A former photography teacher of mine Kate Green [kategreenphotog] recently hosted a photography exhibition in Birmingham showcasing photos taken by Syrian child refugees. Kate went to Jordan in June to visit the worlds second-largest refugee camp. In partnership with the Martin James Foundation, Kate hosted photography workshops to support therapy sessions for young people living with the trauma of being brought up amongst war.
In an interview with Kate Green for the Birmingham Mail, she says that:
“The language of photography allows us to express ourselves, tell our stories and bridge divides. It was my privilege to work with these families and to help the therapists at the Hope Centre to find new ways to conduct their sessions using creative learning, and to make the lives of these children just a little better.”
The last part of this quote is important to consider. Photography at the end of the day is fun. It allows you to be part of a community, It allows you to communicate with other like-minded people and it allows you to be creative. The moments of visualising your shot, seeing your shot, composing your shot and then clicking that shutter you're in a mode of hyper-focus, commonly referred to as ‘flow’. Your in this bubble where all your energy is focused on the shot as you immerse yourself in your environment. It’s a great form of escapism.
For me, street photography is the perfect genre for this. It gives me a reason to leave the house at any time, unlike landscapes and nature photography where you have to rely on perfect conditions to get the shot you've visualised, with street photography lighting doesn't always have to be the core focus. Additionally, whilst I prefer to shoot alone the social side is never compromised.
One of the greatest parts of shooting alone is that you become much more approachable. Fellow photographers and locals are interested in what your shooting and are more likely to interact with you which for me has helped to develop my confidence further.
Whilst I like to perform photography to the highest of my ability, experience and technical knowledge isn't required to benefit from the activity. Simply taking photos with your smartphone when you’re around your friends and family helps to affirm these positive life experiences, ensuring you have positive memories to refer back to in times of hardship.
Bryce Evans delivered an inspiring TEDtalk three years ago explaining how photography saved his life. For ten years he was silent and on many occasions his mind wondered to suicide to solve his problems.
This isn’t uncommon with total suicides reaching a staggering 6,507 in 2018 a rise of 10.9% on the previous year. Whilst statistics don't even come close to indicating the pain this action has on so many others it helps us to realise the extent of the issue and that something needs changing. Aside from the stigma and the difficulty in speaking orally about such issues another huge issue is the waiting times to see recognised therapists.
About 20% of young people with mental health issues wait more than six months to receive care from a specialist. It doesn't take a genius to realise this wait is too long.
Bryce Evans couldn't be silent any longer. Whilst he didn't explain his issues orally at first, his images spoke louder than any words would. He described this journey as reconnecting himself with his ‘authentic self’, relieving himself of any suppressed thoughts.
I assign to the belief that great art comes from pain. Many famous painters, writers and music artists, like Bryce, create there best and most recognised work as a consequence of pain. Van Gogh's famous Starry Night painting was created whilst inside a mental asylum in France recovering from emotional torment, whilst many famous rappers such as Eminem created work in the memory of unstable and tormented childhoods. The intense emotion channelled into their work for them to feel an element of catharsis makes their work more authentic, relatable and powerful. To make myself clear, I’m not ascribing putting yourself in positions of physical or mental torment but what I am suggesting is that for those who are suffering ‘there is light at the end of the tunnel’ and photography can be your way of seeing that light.
For me, this is the same for many photographers. There are endless stories of how photography saved peoples lives. One of the most creative bodies of work I've seen is from a photographer called Leah Freed.
Freed's longest-standing series entitled Breath Studies, sees her make use of a pinhole camera loaded with light-sensitive paper which she aligns on her chest during panic attacks.
'The rise and fall of my stomach as I breathe became an integral part of each image. Each exposure was dependent on how long it took me to get through ten breaths.'
The resulting black and white negatives reveal various white clouds on stark black backgrounds that illustrate the oppressive nature of the world above.
Images courtesy of @LeahFreed
Maybe photography isn't the answer but its certainly an avenue to consider if speaking about it at this moment isn't something you feel you can do. I hope that even if photography isn't the answer that you find an avenue for you to relieve your issues. Other activities such as cooking, sports and art provide similar therapeutical benefits helping you to get into the ‘flow’ and concentrate on the present.