About the Connecticut MGHT Photovoice Project: The photovoice project took place between June and September 2015 and included (a) outreach to invite participants to discuss the Connecticut Mental Health Transformation Grant (MHTG) project in New Haven through photovoice, (b) Photovoice tasks to collect data, (c) face-to-face and webinar-format interviews about the data and (d) a follow-up meeting to review themes and next steps.
Outreach: To reach out to as many participants as possible, the photovoice facilitator developed a flyer, inviting participants to learn more about participating in the Connecticut MHTG photovoice project. Information on the flyer included a brief description of the photo voice process, anticipated outcomes and a time and location to hear more about the work. Project staff distributed the flyer to as many potential participants as possible and posted flyers at each program.
Information session: A meeting was held in July 2015 to explain to project staff and potential participants what the purpose of the photovoice project was, to share examples of related photovoice projects that focused on peer services and health habits and to explain the steps of a photovoice project. The agenda for the information session to the programs included: (a) an orientation to the photovoice process with examples, (b) training on camera use and photography ethics, (c) consent procedures to take pictures and (d) determining what photos to take by reviewing some guiding questions.
Evaluation focus: Specifically, for participants, the guiding evaluation question was:“ How would you describe your experiences with the CT MGHT project?"
Photovoice toolkits: The facilitators distributed Photovoice toolkits that included a digital camera, a pocket video camera, directions for using the cameras and permission slips to take pictures of people or their belongings were explained. In turn, program staff were asked to distribute them to participants who consented to conduct photovoice research. Participants were asked to take photos over the next 4 weeks in preparation for face-to-face interviews with the two research facilitators. face-to-face meetings.
Follow-up interviews: In August 2015, face-to-face meetings between individual participants and the photovoice facilitators were held. At this meeting, the photovoice facilitators asked participants to share their photos and then select 4-6 photos that best highlighted how the program impacted their lives. Participants were asked to explain why the photos were selected.
Reviewing photos and transcripts for themes: The photo voice facilitators reviewed photos from 7 CT MHTG photovoice participants and determined 4 major themes from the work that include: stigma, connections, habits and service.