Photovoice: Student Experiences of Well-Being and Belonging through Visual Storytelling

Amount Awarded: $5,000.00

Academic Year: 2023-2024

Implementation: Fall 2023 - Spring 2024

This photo-voice project used a community-based participatory research method geared towards increasing awareness of well-being on campus through student photography. Social anxiety and feelings of isolation have been increasing trends in college populations, especially since the pandemic. This team identified research showing that connection is an evidence-based protective measurement against mental health issues. The project was a collaboration between students and the Counseling and Wellness Center. 

The project aimed to give 26 students disposable cameras with the objective of documenting their day-to-day life under a theme of their choosing and in relation to well-being. This method centered students as the experts and provided them an opportunity to self-reflect and share their experiences of belonging, including struggles and barriers with it. The students met a couple of times throughout the project implementation to get to know each other, brainstorm what belonging meant to them, and to support each other’s work. This project culminated in a gallery exhibit showcasing their work, open to Western and the general public.