“I captured what brought me from a tight ball to a flower:” photovoice as an artistic strategy to improve mental health among women with HIV/AIDS

Introduction: Many women living with HIV/AIDS (WLH/A) face significant psychological stressors. Novel strategies are needed to help women process these experiences and improve mental health outcomes. We conducted a pilot photovoice intervention called Picturing New Possibilities (PNP) that provided WLH/A an opportunity to identify, discuss and address their mental health challenges and strengths through photography.

Methods: We conducted PNP with 30 WLH/A from three U. S. cities. Participants photographed their experiences, participated in three group discussions, and led a community exhibit of their photos. We explored the impact of the project through group and follow-up interviews. We analyzed transcripts of group and individual interviews for key themes using strategies of thematic and narrative analysis.

Results: Women reported that PNP helped them to: 1. Identify their feelings about living with HIV; 2. Manage anxiety and depression; and 3 Process traumatic experiences. For example, participants said that the project helped them to “express feelings and hurts behind this disease;” “brought me out of my depression;” and “taught me how to grieve [traumas].” Pictures captured strength, support, and hope; and included powerful self-portraits and images of spirituality, friends, pets, and the beauty of nature.

Conclusions: Our preliminary findings support the use of photovoice to enhance mental health among WLH/A. The process offers women a creative way to tell their story, explore their emotions, share their feelings, and learn from others. The images give women a way to create, identify, and document supportive and positive aspects of their lives. The camera fosters both pleasure and skillfulness, which builds women's confidence.