See Change’s ‘Look Beyond’ photovoice research project was launched in Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin 8, on Wednesday 25^th October with the help of Professor Jim Lucey of St Patrick’s Mental Health Services. The exhibition, which seeks to give insight into the often unseen reality of what it means to have a mental health problem, will be travelling nationwide throughout the end of this year and 2018. Each photograph was taken and captioned by someone who lives with mental health difficulties in order to shed light on their experiences and create a dialogue between them and the viewer. 16 people took part in ‘Look Beyond’ taking hundreds of pictures and ultimately choosing over 30 to be part of the exhibition and 90 in the associated catalogue which you can view here.

‘Look Beyond’ will be exhibited over the October bank holiday weekend in Filmbase Friday 27^th, Saturday 28^th, Sunday 29^th and Tuesday 31^st until 2pm. The photographs will be on display in Inchicore library from Wednesday 1^st November until Friday 17^th November.  ‘Look Beyond’ will then travel to the Hunt Museum in Limerick with a special launch on the evening of Tuesday 21^st November. It will be exhibited there until Sunday 3^rd December. More dates and venues are to be confirmed for 2018.

At the launch in Smock Alley, See Change project manager Celine Moran thanked the 16 participants who told their stories in ‘Look Beyond’. She thanked researchers Dr Maria Quinlan and Dr Etáin Quigley for their passion in facilitating and delivering ‘Look Beyond’ and helping See Change to bring the project to fruition. Ms Moran also thanked Professor Jim Lucey for helping See Change launch the exhibition and contributing his knowledge and understanding of the power of personal narratives and creativity in unlocking people’s experiences.

Speaking about the 16 participant photographers Ms Moran said, “I really want to thank them tonight for bravely taking part, using the images and the captions to show us the challenges of living with mental health difficulties. Through the images and the captions they’ve shown their expertise, their knowledge and their wisdom to us all. It’s a great opportunity for us all to get a better understanding of mental health for ourselves and those around us”.

A 40 minute panel discussion chaired by Director of See Change John Saunders took place featuring Dr Maria Quinlan, See Change Ambassador and ‘Look Beyond’ participant Rick Rossiter, Professor Jim Lucey and ‘Look Beyond’ participant Paul O Rourke. The discussion revolved around the importance of finding new ways of communicating our experiences of mental health, what it was like to take part in the process and how the photovoice methodology has been used in the past as a tool for illustrating unique human experiences.

The night concluded with light refreshments, with many attendees taking their time to engage with the photographs, using the opportunity to start a conversation about mental health.

See Change held a regional launch of ‘Look Beyond’, a photovoice research exhibition, on 17th January 2018 at 6pm in Shine Discovery, 1 Barronstrand St Waterford. ‘Look Beyond’ is an exhibition of photographs taken by a group of 16 people who have experienced what it is like to live with mental health difficulties. The exhibition is currently touring Ireland.

It was first launched by See Change in Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin 8 on October 25th 2017.

Speaking at the exhibition launch in Waterford, See Change Project Manager Celine Moran said, “We’re delighted to bring ‘Look Beyond’ to Shine Discovery in Waterford. ‘Look Beyond’ is the work of 16 people sharing their experiences of mental health difficulties with us through the lens.”

She continues, “See Change’s main aim is to end the stigma surrounding mental health issues in Ireland. With this in mind, it is paramount our work is informed by people who have personal experiences of mental health problems as they are the people who are best placed to give insight into mental health related issues. I’d like to thank all the participants who took part in ‘Look Beyond’ and Martin Matthews of Shine for helping us to organise this evening.”

Speaking about taking part in ‘Look Beyond’ as a participant photographer, Waterford native Michael Duggan said, “On a personal level the experience of working on the ‘Look Beyond’ photovoice project was very uplifting and fulfilling, an inspirational journey.”

Commenting at the launch Martin Matthews, the Coordinator of Shine Discovery, Waterford, said “Shine Discovery are very excited to bring this wonderful work to Waterford, using photography to create an understanding of how the experience of a mental health difficulty impacts on the person”.

‘Look Beyond’ is an output of a research project conducted by Dr Maria Quinlan and Dr Etáin Quigley from University College Dublin and Maynooth University. It will be on display in Shine Discovery, Waterford until 8th February 2018.

See Change’s ‘Look Beyond’, a photovoice research exhibition, will be on display in Nano Nagle Place, Douglas St, Cork, from Tuesday 27th February until Saturday 10^th March 2018. ‘Look Beyond’ is an exhibition of photographs taken by a group of sixteen people who have experienced what it is like to live with mental health difficulties.

‘Look Beyond’ is visiting locations all over Ireland and has been exhibited in numerous venues across Dublin, Carlow, Limerick, Waterford and Westmeath. The exhibition was launched last October in Dublin’s Smock Alley Theatre. Look Beyond will continue to tour throughout 2018.

See Change’s ‘Look Beyond’, a photovoice research exhibition, will be on display in Nano Nagle Place, Douglas St, Cork, from Tuesday 27th February until Saturday 10^th March 2018. ‘Look Beyond’ is an exhibition of photographs taken by a group of sixteen people who have experienced what it is like to live with mental health difficulties.

‘Look Beyond’ is visiting locations all over Ireland and has been exhibited in numerous venues across Dublin, Carlow, Limerick, Waterford and Westmeath. The exhibition was launched last October in Dublin’s Smock Alley Theatre. Look Beyond will continue to tour throughout 2018.