IGMH Launches ‘In My Mind’ Photography Contest
Photo: MV+
The Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) has extended an invitation, today, to the public to participate in a mental health-themed photography contest in conjunction with the upcoming Oevaru Mental Health Conference, scheduled for October 15th to 16th, 2023.
Oevaru Mental Health Conference is the first of it's kind. We would love to engage our community and showcase what mental health means to you in our conference. Send us pictures showing what MH means to you! Please check out the link below for guideline and more info… pic.twitter.com/G3jc0zb5Om
— IGMH (@igmhmv) September 11, 2023advertisement
The theme of this initiative, aptly named “In My Mind,” originated from the hospital’s first art exhibition held on October 2nd, 2019, entitled ‘In My Mind.’
This inaugural exhibition was designed to raise awareness about mental health issues and combat the existing stigma surrounding mental well-being. It achieved this goal through artistic expressions that sought to reveal the beauty found within the complexities of the human mind.
Building upon the success of this previous endeavor, and in celebration of the first-ever Mental Health Conference, #Oevaru2023, the hospital is continuing its mission to explore the artistic expression of mental health and well-being through a new medium – photography.
The “In My Mind” Photographic Expression contest is open for submissions from September 7th to October 7th, 2023.
Participants are encouraged to share images that reflect their personal connection to mental health, whether it involves spending quality time with loved ones, enjoying the company of pets, immersing oneself in the beauty of nature, or any other activity that promotes mental well-being.
The campaign invites participants to respond to various prompts, such as:
– What I do to care for myself.
– How I connect with others.
– An activity that contributes to a healthy routine.
– How I maintain a positive outlook and incorporate humor.
– Places where I feel a sense of belonging.
– An activity that ignites my emotions.
– Something that inspires me.
– Something that fills me with hope.
– How I express myself creatively.
– My reason for living.
Participation in the Oevaru2023 Mental Health Conference activities is open to anyone passionate about mental health, irrespective of their photography expertise.
However, the hospital emphasises the importance of adhering to certain guidelines, which include refraining from submitting offensive or disrespectful photographs, as well as photos related to religion, of a sexual nature, or aimed at insulting any party.
To submit entries, participants are required to send their photographs to oevaru.cep@gmail.com, including their name, age, location, contact email address, and, optionally, a brief narrative explaining the image’s connection to mental health. A caption in both Dhivehi and English should accompany each submitted photo.
The submission deadline is set for October 7th, 2023.
Photographs should be in landscape format, with a minimum digital size of 2,400 by 3,000 pixels or a minimum file size of 2.5MB and a maximum of 5MB. Photos should be emailed as .jpg files, and RAW files can be included if applicable.
The hospital has plans for the submitted photos, including creating a photo collage mural to be displayed at the conference, utilising the images on the covers of conference proceedings and a white paper to be submitted to parliament following the event. Additionally, a photo calendar for 2024 featuring selected photos, complete with photographer names and captions, will be distributed to stakeholders.
To engage the wider community and amplify the campaign’s impact, participants are encouraged to use the hashtags #InMyMind and #Oevaru2023 on social media platforms.
