Join us for the Grand Reveal of the Youth Mental Health Photovoice exhibit on September 14

From the uncertainty of growing up to memories of making mud cakes in the garden, NC Healthy Transitions’ Photovoice Exhibit invites the viewer to step into the world of transition-age youth. The project brought together youth from Buncombe County who took pictures of what mental health looks like in their lives.

The exhibit will feature 12 striking photographs and insightful quotes that provide an intimate glimpse into their diverse experiences.

Buncombe County has partnered with NC Healthy Transitions, a local SAMHSA initiative, to host a grand reveal of the exhibit. Join us on Thursday, September 14 at 40 Coxe Avenue in the Health and Human Services building lobby from 5:30-7:30 p.m. There will be a quick presentation at 6 p.m., local organizations tabling with youth and family resources, and drinks and small bites from the Equal Plates Project. Attendees are welcome to drop in and participants should bring their parking ticket for the parking deck to get validated.

The young project creators will also be there to showcase their work.

“The process was actually pretty eye-opening… taking pictures of my community and reflecting on things that people like me also need. I think the more people knew about this, the more they'd want to help and the more they'd want to reach out and be able to provide these resources for students. It just really made me reflect that we as a community need to come together stronger to provide for different minorities, and different communities all over,” says a youth who participated in the project.

This event provides a unique opportunity for the community to hear directly from youth and come together to generate awareness surrounding youth mental health.

“We all have times where we need someone safe that we can talk to and our youth need this more than ever,” says Victoria Reichard, Buncombe County Behavioral Health Manager. “By attending this event you can get a glimpse of what mental health means to some of our youth and ways as a community we can create safe places for youth to talk and receive the support they need.”

Following the reveal, the exhibit will travel around Buncombe County and will be displayed at many stops including county libraries, parks, the Blue Ridge Pride Festival on September 30, and other locations. We invite locals to host the exhibit in their public spaces. For further details about hosting the Photovoice display please contact Willow Burgess-Johnson at fwburgessjo@uncg.edu.

About the Photovoice Exhibit:
“Young people emerging into adulthood face multiple challenges on their journey. Mental health can often influence the trajectory of this transition into adulthood, many youths struggle to know how and where to find support. To better understand the needs of youth and young adults North Carolina DHHS has implemented a SAMHSA-funded project in Buncombe and Henderson Counties called NC Healthy Transitions (https://nchealthytransitions.org/). To engage youth and young adults in these communities we have asked them to take pictures of what mental health means in their lives and then attend a focus group to relate their experiences."

If you or a loved one are in crisis or need emotional support, you can call or text 988, a free, confidential line open 24/7 in both English and Spanish. You can also chat at 988lifeline.org.