New Roads Paved on Losses: Photovoice Perspectives About Recovery From Mental Illness
Abstract
People with serious mental illness face stigma that interferes with recovery. Photovoice is a method that integrates photography and writing, providing a valuable means for capturing the narratives of people with mental illness whose voices are often marginalized. The purpose of the present article is to explore the meaning of recovery for individuals with serious mental illness based on a qualitative analysis of a new photovoice-based intervention, Recovery Narrative Photovoice. This intervention focuses on promoting the process of recovery and sense of identity through the creation of empowering visual images and narratives of recovery for individuals with serious mental illness. In this article, we present iconographic and thematic analysis for the 23 photovoice works from two pilots of the Recovery Narrative Photovoice intervention. Results reveal several themes, including metaphors for mental illness, associated losses, recovery strategies, and recovery outcomes. A final theme pertains to recovery messages learned from the recovery process.
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Biographies
Lauren Mizock, PhD, is an assistant professor in the psychology department at Worcester State University, Worcester, Massachusetts, and an adjunct assistant professor at the Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation at Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, the United States.
Zlatka Russinova, PhD, is a senior research associate at the Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation at Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, the United States.
Roni Shani, BA, is a research intern at the Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation at Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, the United States.
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Article first published online: August 28, 2014
Issue published: November 2014
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Published online: August 28, 2014
Issue published: November 2014
PubMed: 25168704
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