{"id":168315,"date":"2025-06-08T19:04:15","date_gmt":"2025-06-08T19:04:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/168315\/"},"modified":"2025-06-08T19:04:15","modified_gmt":"2025-06-08T19:04:15","slug":"photojournalist-ed-gold-says-mental-health-project-was-toughest-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/168315\/","title":{"rendered":"Photojournalist Ed Gold says mental health project was toughest"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lewis Adams<\/p>\n

BBC News, Essex<\/p>\n

\"EdEd Gold\/Positive Futures<\/p>\n

Claire Osborne said taking part in the project was “memorable and meaningful”<\/p>\n

A photojournalist who had witnessed war in Afghanistan said a new project focused on mental health was his toughest yet.<\/p>\n

Ed Gold interviewed 30 people living across Essex to build a picture of what life was like battling mental health struggles.<\/p>\n

He hoped the six-week project would benefit the Lampard Inquiry<\/a>, which is analysing 2,000 deaths at NHS inpatient units.<\/p>\n

“I want people to know that there are others who care, who see them and are giving them a voice,” Mr Gold said.<\/p>\n

He became aware of how many people struggled with their mental health while speaking with baristas at a cafe in Colchester in winter 2024.<\/p>\n

“The more I spoke with all of them, the more I was taken aback,” said the self-taught photographer, who published the images in his Positive Futures magazine<\/a>. <\/p>\n

“I never realised just how many people were struggling with their mental health, taking antidepressants and seeing therapists.”<\/p>\n

\"EdEd Gold\/Positive Futures<\/p>\n

Mr Gold said photographing people such as Kaya, above, had taught him more about mental health<\/p>\n

Mr Gold hoped empowering people to speak about their difficulties in real time would give others a greater understanding.<\/p>\n

The Lampard Inquiry has been looking at deaths in Essex, but the photographer said lessons should be learned before people died.<\/p>\n

His interviews focused on 15 men and 15 women, aged 13-39, and took place in Colchester, Clacton-on-Sea and Braintree.<\/p>\n

“I was moved to tears once or twice from various stories; it’s probably been the toughest project I’ve ever taken on,” said Mr Gold, who has also taken photos in Ukraine.<\/p>\n

“It also gave me a huge frustration because I found so many people were being let down.”<\/p>\n

\"EdEd Gold\/Positive Futures<\/p>\n

Ethan was pictured by Mr Gold on Colchester High Street<\/p>\n

He explained one interview left him feeling obliged to take the person to hospital, such were his concerns about their welfare.<\/p>\n

“I became angry and frustrated at people not being given the help they need,” Mr Gold said.<\/p>\n

“They were in tears and total despair, but not getting anywhere at all.”<\/p>\n

\"EdEd Gold\/Positive Futures<\/p>\n

Erin was another person who was interviewed in Colchester<\/p>\n

Mr Gold said that while he hoped his work would inspire conversation, he feared radical improvements in mental health care were far away.<\/p>\n

He added: “I almost feel like it’s a never-ending project, I just can’t see how it will ever end.”<\/p>\n