THE Mental Health Foundation has launched a photography contest to help build a ‘Positive Mental Health Image Library’ that accurately represents mental health.

The Foundation hopes the images can replace some of the negative or unrealistic depictions of mental health which are commonly used in the media and online.

The contest is open to everyone (18 and over) and winners will receive high street shopping voucher prizes of up to £500.

The competition is open now on the Mental Health Foundation website until Sunday, 10 December 2023.
 

All images published in the library will be freely available for anyone to use in the media, in print or online. Images submitted should be:-

• Your own images
• High quality, high resolution images
• Show the kind of things people do to look after their mental health, in line with the recommendations from our research above. 
• Categories include - (Nature, Connection, The Workplace, Creativity, Physical Activity)

Mark Rowland, Mental Health Foundation CEO said:- “Have you noticed in new stories or articles online about mental health, that images used are often negative or unrealistic?  Sometimes a story will feature a person with their head in hands or someone crying, or images of people will look staged or unrepresentative. We think this can contribute to mental health stigma. We want to create an Image Library that is authentic and positive, which features real people doing the things we know can benefit mental health. And we’re asking the public for help creating it. Whether it’s exercising, being creative, socialising, learning something new, or experiencing nature. There’s lots you could photograph, and you don’t need an expensive camera to enter. Your photos will help us challenge mental health stigma and change the way the public views mental health.”

The charity worked with its community panel, the OPEN Network (Our Personal Experience Network), a group with lived experience of mental health, to develop the image library project. The group said it was important for images to show diversity, a range of activities, human connection (but it’s ok to show people being content on their own) and be realistic in terms of how people are dressed, where they are, and what activity they are up to.

The group found some images in the news or in content online appeared posed and staged, financially unrelatable with expensive homes or products, stereotypical (not everyone practices mindfulness in a forest at sunrise!) or showing inaccessible activities that are only available to some of us, and / or excludes people from certain backgrounds. 

Winners will be selected by the contest Judging Panel, including the OPEN Network. High street shopping voucher prizes of £100 will be awarded for each category. Both the Judge’s favourite overall entry and the winner of a random prize draw for all entries will receive £500 high street shopping vouchers.

To find out more about the image library, and to submit your entry, visit:- www.mentalhealth.org.uk/photos