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ABSTRACT
Many women living with HIV/AIDS (WL-HIV/AIDS) experience significant mental distress. Although creative arts strategies are well positioned to help support women by inspiring creativity and meaning-making, few arts programs have been implemented and evaluated with this population. The authors conducted a photography project with 30 WL-HIV/AIDS from three United States cities. Participants took pictures to capture their lives with HIV/AIDS and described their photos and stories in group and individual sessions. Using thematic analysis, the authors identified that the project supported women’s mental health in four ways by facilitating empowerment and helping women to express themselves, address their mental health with new tools like photography, and process past traumas. Photography projects may help WL-HIV/AIDS understand and manage their mental health.
Funding
This research was supported by NIH grants R25 DA28567, R25 HD 045810, and R25 MH067127. We thank Diane Binson for her thoughtful suggestions on the manuscript.
Additional information
Funding
Notes on contributors
Michelle Teti
Michelle Teti is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Sciences at the University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.
Bryana French
Bryana French is an Assistant Professor in the Graduate School of Professional Psychology at the University of St. Thomas, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Allison Kabel
Allison Kabel is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Sciences at the University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.
Rose Farnan
Rose Farnan is an Infectious Disease Manager at Truman Medical Centers in Kansas City, Missouri.