 |
|||
|
Introduction |
Discovering a Community: The faces and places of psychiatry in Gainesville, Florida reflects my strong interest in psychiatry and my deep respect for those who devote their time to achieve equitable services and treatment for a population that often lacks a voice. With medical school graduation only months away, I realized I knew very little about community mental health resources in Gainesville. To fill this gap in my medical education, I decided to immerse myself in the local mental health community and compile the information for medical students to use as a resource. Discovering a Community is the final product of this venture. It introduces ten community programs that cater to the needs of clients and/or their loved ones. This black and white photo essay highlights veteran and non-veteran programs, support groups, law enforcement initiatives, and court services in Gainesville. The purpose of this project is as follows: to create awareness of the tremendous community effort required to properly care for those with severe mental illness; to remind the reader of the pervasive and destructive burden of stigma attached to all psychiatric illnesses; to provide the reader with information about mental health resources in the community; to serve as a resource for volunteer opportunities; to promote advocacy in psychiatry; and to inspire the reader to learn more about the needs of his/her community. This project involved making contacts in the local mental health community. I traveled to the sites mentioned in this booklet and interviewed clients, family members, health care professionals, law enforcement officers, court officials and volunteers. I included a brief description of each site along with transcripts from conversations I had with selected persons. Transcripts have been edited and approved by the individuals to ensure their story is told accurately. In some cases, individuals submitted narratives or quotes to express their perspective. The interactions I had with clients and family members were truly powerful and I thank them for sharing very private information in order to shed light on the topic of mental illness. Most transcripts have a black and white photo accompaniment. These images were achieved through black and white digital and film photography. Due to time restraints, this booklet does not reflect all the psychiatric services in our community. Meridian, Shands at Vista, and the North-East Florida State Hospital are key mental health providers not mentioned in Discovering a Community. Moreover, I encourage the reader to research psychiatric services for children and adolescents as this booklet only mentions programs for adults. Nevertheless, it is my hope that Discovering a Community inspires others to continue bridging the gap between the academic and non-academic aspects of psychiatry. |
||