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UR in the Picture

Nine people with enduring mental health needs who are supported by United Response, took part in project called Mental Wealth.

We originally intended for the project to raise awareness. We soon realised that it also had enormous therapeutic benefits, including increased confidence and self-esteem.

The idea of the project was to work with people so they could develop the skills they needed to use photography as a creative medium. We wanted to produce a set of images to communicate the reality of daily life from the perspective of people with mental health needs.

The project was so successful, on so many levels, that we are now raising money to develop this work under the working title of UR in the Picture. This will enable us to measure and formally assess the therapeutic benefits of this innovative approach. Most importantly, we want to open out this kind of work to reach many more people with severe and enduring mental health needs.

Find out more about original Mental Wealth project

See some more photographs from the Mental Wealth project

Project outcomes

We soon realised that the project had enormous therapeutic benefits, including increased confidence and self-esteem. So it became more than a project to raise awareness and reduce stigma.

Other outcomes were:

• everyone taking part gained greater confidence in their own abilities,
• two photographers overcame phobias that had previously restricted their use of public transport
• five photographers said the project saw them achieve more than months of counselling or medication in terms of building confidence and self esteem
• everyone gained enormous strength from the working with - and talking to - their peers within a supportive environment
• one person simply said "This is the best thing I have ever done".

If you’d like to make a donation specifically to this appeal, please make sure you add the words ‘UR in the Picture’ into the ‘donation target’ box on the online form. If you’d rather make a telephone donation please call 020 8246 5200 and ask to speak to a member of the fundraising team who will make sure your donation is earmarked for this appeal. Donate Now!