Photo exhibit shares employment participation perspectives of people with mental illness

“I spent valuable time on my journey, mental health challenges, and life. I didn’t even recognize myself in the mirror. I lost (so much) time that I couldn’t look in the mirror.” – Reflections of a study participant

A bus stop, a clock, the view from a bedroom floor: These images and many more are represented in a collection of photos on display at Briscoe Library through July 31.

Taken by people with mental health challenges to share their experiences with employment, the photos are part of a project led by Doctor of Occupational Therapy student Jennifer Ruiz-Sandoval and funded by a Community Service Learning grant. The project, “Employment Participation Through the Lens of People with Lived Experience of Mental Illness,” aims to raise awareness and spark conversations about mental health in the workplace.

“We know there is mental illness in the workplace, but it is never discussed,” Ruiz-Sandoval. “With this raising awareness, it will help open a conversation.”

The challenges presented by mental health in the realm of work are myriad, she said.

“It ranges from they are struggling to eat to having issues with insomnia,” she said. “There are lot of things that we don’t really take into consideration that will help provide awareness.”

The role of occupational therapy in mental health

“ ‘Occupation’ is a big umbrella term,” Ruiz-Sandoval said. “It ranges from activities of daily living like brushing your teeth and getting groceries to employment. To allow for individuals to participate in employment is a big aspect of [occupational therapy]. We wanted to enhance participation in employment.”

The photos were taken by seven anonymous participants in a study completed in 2023 that was funded by a Community Engagement Small Project Grant from the Institute for Integration of Medicine and Science (IIMS) at UT Health San Antonio and led by Chinyu Wu, PhD, OTR, an associate professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy. Wu gave the study participants digital cameras and asked them to document their own lived experience, a methodology called “photovoice.” 

“Photovoice allows me to explore the lived experience and the issues from the perspective of the people who have the illness,” Wu said, noting that she presented the study at the American Occupational Therapy Association national conference this spring. “Photovoice is a very powerful method. It allows us to have a visual of what it is like for people who are living through these experiences.”

Participants in Wu’s study were recruited from Prosumers International, a local nonprofit and Wu’s community partner on her study.

Study participants decided as a group to take photos about their employment-related experiences. They completed three rounds of photo assignments and reflected on three key themes that emerged: the impact of mental health issues on employment, maintaining health and wellness and envisioning a better workplace. For some participants, experiences with incarceration and homelessness have presented additional challenges to employment.

People with mental illness have restricted opportunities to participate in employment and the challenges are not well understood by employers, others in  the workplace and even health care providers,” Wu said.

Wu’s study also included the formation of a community advisory group that meets regularly to discuss how to move the conversation on mental health and employment forward.

“The group was informed by the findings of the photovoice study,” Wu said, noting that the CSL grant project developed out of the community advisory group’s goal of increasing awareness about the challenges people with mental health issues face in the workplace.

The project highlights the holistic aspect of occupational therapy, said Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Bridgett Piernik-Yoder, PhD, OTR, FAOTA, professor and chair of the Department of Occupational Therapy.

“The exhibit poignantly conveys the experiences of people with serious mental illness because the photos provide a vehicle through which the participants can share their personal stories,” Piernik-Yoder said. “This technique offers health professionals and the community invaluable insights and certainly reflects the person-centered, holistic approach of occupational therapy. “

How to view the exhibit

The exhibit will be on display in the main lobby of the Briscoe Library through July 31. The library requires badge access for entry. The exhibit will move to the Tobin Branch of the San Antonio Public Library in August and to Morgan’s Multi-Assistance Center (MAC) in the fall. Exhibit photos and the stories behind them can also be viewed online. 

Ruiz-Sandoval has created a survey to help gauge attitudes about mental health in the workplace. She will compare the responses of people who take the survey after seeing the photo exhibit to responses from people who do not view the exhibit.