Exhibit aims to reduce sigma of mental illness
“Research tells us that the best way to reduce the stigma about ( mental illness) is for someone to meet someone with mental illness,” said Executive Director of the Mental Health Association in Pennsylvania (MHAPA) Sue Walther. “( If) you meet and become acquainted with someone with mental illness, it doesn’t allow you to have your preconceived notions.” By showing attendees a new side of mental health recovery through photography and art, the Faces of Mental Health Recovery Public Art Project aims to introduce residents of Montgomery County to members of the mental health recovery community as well as deconstruct the stereotypes that surround mental illness. The exhibit will open with a reception on Thursday, June 19, at 6: 30 p. m. in Montgomery County Community College’s Parkhouse Hall atrium. The exhibit will feature 2- by3- foot photos of each participant and will also feature smaller pictures and biographies. During the reception, photos taken by the participants will also be on display. The project, which was fifirst held in Perry County, is part of the “I’m the Evidence Mental Health Campaign” created by MHAPA. “The ‘ I’m the Evidence Mental Health Campaign’ is a grassroots campaign that we began in order to help raise awareness about how each one of us can positively impact the lives of people who are in mental health recovery,” said Walther. “We do that by honoring human potential, by creating opportunities and by offering
encouragement.”
Along with MHAPA, two other organizations helped with the planning of the exhibit. HopeWorx Inc. helped put together the exhibit, while Director of the POWER Program of Montgomery County Community College Diane Haar helped find potential participants who had graduated from the program.
The project, which features 13 people either in mental health recovery or who support the cause, began with a workshop that taught the participants basic photography skills and gave them a chance to speak about their life experiences.
“I didn’t really know what to expect when we were doing this,” said Director of Advocacy for HopeWorx Inc. and exhibit participant Kathie Mitchell. “It was a big thing that we were all together and not everyone knew each other.”
The first day featured a lesson on photography by photojournalist Kara Newhouse and included the participants taking photos of things that reminded them of recovery.
“The pictures people took on the first day represented the values of hope, faith, connectedness and different values of belief,” said Mitchell.
In the afternoon, Newhouse took photos of the participants, while mental health advocate Shelley Bishop talked to the participants about recovery.
“I was concerned about (the photos being taken while we were talking), but they do show emotion,” said Mitchell. “When you talk about something that you are passionate about or that you care about, it’s going to evoke emotion in the picture.”
The next day, the participants chose the photos of themselves they liked best and wanted to be featured at the exhibit.
After the photos were chosen on the second day, the participants gathered to speak about their experiences with mental illness and recovery.
In a blog post written for the “I’m the Evidence Campaign,” Mitchell expressed the intimacy of the second afternoon of the workshop and how powerful she felt that part of the workshop was.
“As we shared our stories of recovery, strength and courage, a closeness emerged that hadn’t been present before,” wrote Mitchell. “There was a renewed feeling of faith and belief in ourselves and others.”
Two weeks later, the participants were reunited to wheat paste their chosen photos onto large canvases for the exhibit.
According to exhibit participant George Rohde, the exhibit will hopefully enable members of the community to see mental illness and recovery in a new way.
“We’re hoping that the exhibit takes away the stigma of mental illness and substance abuse,” said Rohde. “There is hope and things can get better for people who suffer from these afflictions.”
Rohde, who struggled with bipolar disorder and substance abuse in his past, found refuge in the POWER Program, which allowed him to become involved in college life and eventually take college courses.
Upon graduating from the program, Rohde was given the opportunity to become a mentor for students who are currently enrolled in the POWER Program.
Rohde is also set to marry fellow exhibit participant and POWER Program graduate, Anita Bono.
According to Rohde, his portrait exemplifies his belief in himself and how far he has come.
“(Being involved in this exhibit) makes me feel good, and it’s such an accomplishment looking at where I was four or five years ago and where I am now,” said Rohde.
The exhibit will be featured through July 9 at Montgomery County Community College. For more information about the event or to learn about the participants, visit itecampaign.org/art.