Picturing recovery – A photovoice workshop for young mental health recoverees

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Anna Luoto Picturing recovery 84 pages Published (spring, 2025) Diaconia University of Applied Sciences Degree in social services

In this thesis I describe how I carried out development project with young mental health recoverees. In form of photovoice, participatory photography project about mental health recovery. Aim of the project was to use participatory photography to help clients in their recovery process combining principles of recovery orientation which is the current frame work philosophy behind the mental health treatment and valuable work that culture house Elvis does with different kinds of creative methods. This method is empowering, awareness raising and participatory. In the workshops I used also other creative methods with photovoice to make the creative process more profound such as free writing, painting , dream mapping and writing tasks about good mood skills. This also was serving my goal to add peer support to the workshop sessions. Mental health issues are increasing among young population in Finland and therefore I aimed to enhance the recovery process of the young recoverees trough this creative method which combines photos and stories. The working life partner was Niemikoti culture house Elvis, which offers social psychiatric recovery work and guided functional peer support to its clients. To participate in Niemikoti Elvis activities one must have valid treatment relationship in psychiatric policlinic. Workshops that combined painting, creative writing and peer support and photo taking lasted 4 weeks and in the end we held exhibition which was open to the public as well aiming to reduce the stigma of mental health issues. The project was successful and fulfilled its needs empowering the participant in their recovery process and adding hope of recovery. According to the publics feedback the decreasing of the stigma was accomplished as well.

Keywords: Recovery orientation, guided functional peer support, theory of strengths in mental health services, photo as empowering method with service users