Collecting and disseminating the stories of people who have recovered or are recovering from a serious substance use problem is of great importance. There is much we can learn from these people about the nature of addiction and recovery, as well as the factors that facilitate recovery.
Moreover, the stories of people living with, and recovering from, various other forms of adversity, such as trauma, mental health problems and homelessness, are very important. Such stories help people better understand the nature of their problem, as well as help them on their road to recovery. The stories can have a positive effect on the self-esteem of people whose stories are told, and also help reduce stigma and discrimination in society.
Here is an interesting project that Huseyin Djemil, Founder of Towards Recovery, once commissioned that shows that some people who are experiencing adversity want their names associated with a project focused on their problem. It’s been awhile since I posted something on my blog from my interviews with Huseyin.
Being Heard [6’27”]
Huseyin describes a project he had previously commissioned that involved giving homeless people in Aylesbury cameras to record their experiences on the street. The project participants were given the option of being anonymous when the project report was prepared. They didn’t want to be anonymous; they wanted their voices to be heard. Huseyin also describes the Aylesbury Council’s response to this project, as well as a local project for the homeless set up by a local woman.
The photograph at the top of the page is is taken from an article by Nick Maughan for Reaction.