The Big Picture
Adapting photovoice to enhance psychological, social and cultural insights into, and prevention and treatment of, youth substance use in India (September 2018 – February 2021).
Purpose
This project seeks to understand the experience of young Assamese people around risk, recovery and resilience in relation to substance abuse and mental health. The goal is to increase knowledge, enhance the voice of young people, and inform practice through impacting policy and promoting public awareness.
Process
We learn from two groups of young Assamese people who show resilience to substance abuse. The first group are twelve 15-18 year olds at increased risk of substance abuse but who have managed to stay clean. The second group are twelve 19-24 year olds who have engaged successfully in drug rehabilitation. Participants are invited to bring photos to interview to convey their experience of risk, resilience and recovery. This material is analysed using Thematic Analysis. Participants are invited to create a poster from their photos and to take part in film-making workshops. We also map research-to-policy-pathways and interview, and hold workshops with, key stakeholders involved in mental health policy and practice in Assam. This material is analysed using Framework Analysis. Finally, we collaborate with organisations in India to understand the potential of embedding visual methods in their work and to build their mental health research and service delivery capacity.
Cases
Case studies from The Big Picture will be available here soon.
The Big Picture team member – Professor Paul Cooke, University of Leeds UK – leading filming-making training on the university campus.
The Big Picture principal investigator – Professor Anna Madill, University of Leeds UK – with Dr Sonia Pereira and Dr Arunjyoti Baruah – the LGB Regional Institute of Mental Health, Assam – being presented a Memorandum of Understanding by Dr Peter Gardner, Head of the School of Psychology.
THE BIG PICTURE
PSEUDONYM: Samba
GENDER: Male
NATIONALITY: Indian
AGE: 18 years old
This is what Samba said about this picture: “When I was abusing drugs, I can describe my life as destroyed almost… Even this is like a symbolic example… your life is in your own hands and you’re destroying it. If you know it’s bad, why are you doing it”
THE BIG PICTURE
PSEUDONYM: Rohan
GENDER: Male
NATIONALITY: Indian
AGE: 18 years old
Participant looks through the photos he brought before starting to tell his story of how he resisted problematic use of drugs.
The Big Picture PhD student – Chloe Brooks – with her supervisors Professor Anna Madill and Dr Tolib Mirzoev.
THE BIG PICTURE
PSEUDONYM: Rohan
GENDER: Male
NATIONALITY: Indian
AGE: 18 years old
Participant engaging in the process of poster-making as part of The Big Picture project. He chose to draw one of the photos he brought to the interview to convey a message to other young people.
The Big Picture PhD student – Chloe Brooks – reading material.
THE BIG PICTURE
PSEUDONYM: Manav
GENDER: Male
NATIONALITY: Indian
AGE: 24 years old
This is what Manav said about this picture: “Condition was bad means my health was completely deteriorated ok and means it happened like I’m sitting somewhere. Nothing seems to please me. Completely blank. I had a photo of that time. Where is it, let me describe it. This one (refers to the photo). If I sit somewhere, I couldn’t see anything. I felt life there’s nothing in my life. Because I was actually doing nothing. I just wake up in the morning, get intoxicated, sleep at night. Get intoxicated till my eyes aren’t closed and then sleep.”
Interview with the service provider in Nirmaan Rehabilitation Facility, Ratul Dey, who gave an in-depth insight about drug addiction problem among young people in Assam and plausible ways forward.
Credits for the introductory film we created for The Big Picture.
Cartoon created of panel ‘Young people’s perspective’ for University of Leeds UK Cultural Institute Arts and Mental Health day conference.
Still of Dr Raginie Duara, Research Fellow University of Leeds UK, from The Big Picture introductory film.
Still of Dr Rebecca Graber, University of Brighton UK, from The Big Picture introductory film.
The Big Picture PhD student – Chloe Brooks – and supervisor Dr Tolib Mirzoev, University of Leeds UK.
THE BIG PICTURE
PSEUDONYM: Kevin
GENDER: Male
NATIONALITY: Indian
AGE: 21 years old
Last of the sixteen photos brought by a participant expressing the final positive feeling of being free of drugs and in a position to now guide others through their recovery from drug addiction.
THE BIG PICTURE
PSEUDONYM: Rishi
GENDER: Male
NATIONALITY: Indian
AGE: 21 years old
Participant narrates his story of rehabilitation and recovery from drug addiction. He took part in creating the story board, bringing images and videos for B rolls and finally narrated his story in front of the camera.
The Big Picture receives ethical approval from the LGB Regional Institute of Mental Health, Assam.
THE BIG PICTURE
PSEUDONYM: Purav
GENDER: Male
NATIONALITY: Indian
AGE: 19 years old
Participant gets thirty-three images to narrate his story of recovery from drug addiction. Each photo used carefully to give the interviewer insight into different phases of his journey, starting from how and why he first used substances, what led him to seek help through a rehab centre, and in his quest to recovery, what posed helpful and what caused difficulties.
The Big Picture proud to contribute to this international conference.
Participants from our recovery group engaging in film-making workshop, learning to use the filming equipments and developing story boards.
The Big Picture team meeting – Professor Paul Cooke, Professor Anna Madill, Dr Siobhan Hugh-Jones, Chloe Brooks and Louise Walton – University of Leeds UK.
THE BIG PICTURE
PSEUDONYM: Jhanvi
GENDER: Male
NATIONALITY: Indian
AGE: 17 years old
One of the fifteen photos brought by a participant, where she sketched her feelings, photographed and explained, “I wanted to go somewhere else. I felt like that and finish everything and go somewhere else… I felt like someone was holding me and forcefully. I was not able to concentrate on anything, I was not able to do anything. I wanted to go out, but I was bound to be there. I wanted to come out and go somewhere, don’t know where. But I just wanted to go somewhere”. Strong emotional moments associated with the urge to take substances, but like many young participants, she exhibited remarkable resilience.
Logos of The Big Picture funders, partner organisations, and collaborating universities.
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