Painted Vulnerability: Photo Series

Hello folks! I am raising money to fund my new project that merges mental health awareness with art! The thing is, I currently don't have the key ingredient to this project: a camera! I've been running myself very thin trying to scrape enough money together to get by, and so I don't have enough money (nor will I have enough in the near future) to afford a camera. Which is why I've turned to the internet (something my anxiety is telling me not to do) and am hoping to find people who are willing to contribute even just a little bit to this project (and my future projects related to mental health).

You can see the inspiration for my project here: https://puttingdowntherope.com/2018/04/09/one-body-one-life/

I've had this idea for a long time, but have been too shy to really open up about it.  When I posted it on my blog, I had a friend reach out and ask me to paint her. She was struggling with body image and battling an eating disorder. And she wanted to paint her vulnerabilities on her body and show the world. It was inspiring. 

I'm finally ready to dive in and pursue this project; I want others to feel as beautiful as I felt when I painted myself for the first time. I want to explore others' vulnerabilities through art, and let others know that they are seen and they are not alone. 

I would love it if you could contribute anything you can. I really want to show the world what art can do and how it can impact mental health. 

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Mental health issues are incredibly difficult to live with. Art makes them a little easier to bear. When it feels like too much, PLEASE reach out. If you are uncomfortable calling a hotline, reach out to friends or family. Even me. As someone who struggles with self harm and suicide ideation, I am here to remind you that you are special and loved, even when you don’t believe it yourself.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255. It provides free and confidential support 24 hours a day, seven days a week for people in suicidal crisis or distress.

You can also call 1-800-273-8255 to talk to someone about how you can help a person in crisis.

Call 1-866-488-7386 for the TrevorLifeline, a suicide prevention counseling service for the LGBTQ community.

Text HOME to 741741 to have a confidential text conversation with a trained crisis counselor from Crisis Text Line.

Online, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides a confidential chat window, with counselors available 24/7: http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/…/LifelineChat.aspx

For crisis support in Spanish, call 1-888-628-9454.