A PHOTOGRAPHER took portrait shots of people in the community to raise awareness of mental illness issues during the pandemic.

Deborah Lowe, from Park North, picked 20 people among her friends, family members, neighbours and others to take part in a project which shows how everyone’s mental health has been affected by the crisis.

She said: “This year has been a tough one for us all. The months of lockdown and loss of loved ones, the total change of living and adapting new rules and restrictions, social distance, have had a huge impact on our mental health.

“We know that many have developed new mental health problems as a result of the pandemic and, for some of us, existing mental health problems have got worse.

“I had the help of the local community and some friends and family who also live in Swindon to help create this piece of photography image related to everyone’s mental health during the pandemic.”

“The hands represent the mask and because of the mask you can’t tell the expression of someone’s face, or how they are feeling. You can just see their eyes.

“I thought that was a big thing because that’s not just for one place, it’s worldwide. We’re going through the same thing, at the same time.

“It affects everyone regardless of their age, background, or ethnicity.”

Deborah, who started photography back in 2008, said mental health is important to her because she has seen people close to her suffering from depression and anxiety.

“I hope this will inspire a lot of people, and I hope they will understand the concept, that we are all affected,” she said

“I want people to speak out and be more friendly and be more understanding of other people’s feeling, and don’t judge them anybody for how they are.”