What is it like to be an older adult with a mental health concern living in a small town?
What: A photo exhibit portraying the experiences of adults living with mental health concerns
Who: UBC Okanagan’s School of Nursing and psychology department, Interior Health and the South Okanagan Similkameen Mental Wellness Society
When: Wednesday, January 30 from 2 to 6 p.m.
Where: Riverside Community Centre, 148 Old Hedley Rd., Princeton BC
Mental health is a major issue in Canada. Adults 50 and over continue to experience an increase in mental health concerns, especially in rural areas, and there is little information about their experiences.
UBC Okanagan’s School of Nursing and its department of psychology, Interior Health and the South Okanagan Mental Wellness Society have worked to understand the experience of adults, aged 50 and over, who live with mental health concerns in rural areas, specifically Princeton.
Eight Princeton participants were asked to document their experiences and meaningful parts of their lives with photography. The research team and participants then reviewed the images and discussed major findings and research themes.
The participants felt displaying their photography would be an ideal way to share their experiences and their mental health story. The goal is to help increase the public’s awareness of this health issue.
This event, which is free and open to the public, takes place Wednesday, January 30 at the Riverside Community Centre in Princeton. The exhibit will be open to the public for viewing for the month of February.
For more information about the project, contact Carolyn Szostak at 250 807 8736 or carolyn.szostak@ubc.ca.
About UBC’s Okanagan campus
UBC’s Okanagan campus is an innovative hub for research and learning in the heart of British Columbia’s stunning Okanagan Valley. Ranked among the top 20 public universities in the world, UBC is home to bold thinking and discoveries that make a difference. Established in 2005, the Okanagan campus combines a globally recognized UBC education with a tight-knit and entrepreneurial community that welcomes students and faculty from around the world.
To find out more, visit: ok.ubc.ca.
