Joan Malina uses her camera on an ongoing visual journey that is intended to bring light and awareness to a silent, deadly epidemic: mental illness. The photos shown through her lens, are images that helps to show the strength of those who continue to give voice to those with suicide ideation that have made attempts to their life and to those who have been silenced too soon. Many of Joan’s images are from Out of Darkness walks held throughout the Chicago region. At the walk events, Joan’s images make visible that some forms or signs of expression may be shown in a variety of different ways. The common thread in all of these different kinds of expression is to reduce the burden of stigma associated with mental health issues, to educate and bring awareness to these issues instead of turning to suicide as the only option to relieve suffering, and raise the importance of reducing the suicide rate in our country.
Many of Joan's photographs are published in a book called, Seasons of Grief: Survivors of Suicide Walk Through the Year. Seen In many of the photographs, walkers are wearing Honor Beads. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) “What’s Your Color?” Honor Beads color system signifies that each color shows a persons’ personal connection to the causes of suicide prevention, and helps others’ to understand an individual’s experience without having words spoken. These are often worn at AFSP The Overnight Walks and Community Walks throughout the United States. Joan has been so touched and inspired by these brave people that she wanted to give voice to them by including some of their messages for reducing suicide, and to bring light and hope to others through their powerful words in her images.
Book link:
https://www.catholiccharities.net/seasonsofgrief