Community Assessment
Amplify voices within Lexington-Fayette County using Photovoice to illustrate lived experience with stigmatized health issues: substance use disorder and mental health.
Welcome to our Photovoice project!
We invite all to participate in sharing “What aspects of our community support mental well-being, and what are some of our challenges?” Observe your surroundings and identify both strengths and concerns that influence your mental health. Your engagement promotes discussion about what makes a community mentally healthy and how improvements can be made. Your photos and stories will help us showcase the diverse perspectives and experiences within our community.
Examples of strengths: places, activities, or things in your community that promote positive mental health, such as parks, supportive friends, community events, or places of relaxation.
Examples of concerns: aspects in your community that pose challenges to your mental health, such as stressors, environmental factors, or lack of resources.
Three primary goals of Photovoice:
- Enable people to record and reflect community strengths and concerns.
- Promote critical dialogue and knowledge through group discussion of photos.
- Reach policymakers.
Photovoice has established implications for:
- Reducing stigma.
- Enhancing community engagement.
- Amplifying community voices of lived behavioral health experience.
Previous Photovoice literature has shown:
- Inconsistent adherence to Photovoice method.
- Inconsistent or unreported evaluation of Photovoice outcomes and impact.
How to Participate.
Capture Your Photos: Take photos that represent your experiences, stories, and perspectives related to our community.
Write Your Story: For each photo, write a brief description or story that explains its significance.
Guidelines for Submission:
- You can submit up to 5 non-identifiable photos.
- Each photo should be accompanied by a description of up to 200 words.
- All submissions must be original and reflect your own experiences within our community.
Important Dates:
- Submission Deadline: TBD
- Exhibition and Community Event: Nov 12, time/location TBD
If you have any questions or need assistance, please click the link below.
CHA/Community Health Improvement (CHIP) efforts and other public health initiatives
benefit from deeper understanding of community perspectives and needs.
Photovoice: participatory methodology to “identify, represent, and enhance community
through a specific photographic technique” (Wang and Burris, 1997).
Make your event STAND OUT!
Display Lex-CHIP Retractable Banners! Step into the heart of community empowerment with the Lex-CHIP partnership. Each banner tells a story of collaboration. Please help us share the strengths and concerns identified by our partners.
Display our Photovoice banners at your event!
e would like to thank the community for the invaluable participation in our CHA efforts, participants who shared their perspectives through photographs and narratives, community organizations, and the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department.
