Mentally Forgotten

Displacement is a harsh reality that renders people invisible. Society often looks away, dismissing those struggling on the streets as if their suffering is contagious. Many who are displaced have fallen through the cracks, not due to lack of effort but because of systemic failures, mental health struggles, drug addiction, family abuse, and unforeseen hardships.

As a photojournalist, I’ve used my camera not just to document but to understand. Through the lens, I’ve witnessed the resilience and pain of those living without stability. Shelters provide a brief refuge, but the deeper issues remain—lack of resources, support, and visibility. The stories of displaced individuals are often untold, reduced to stereotypes rather than acknowledged as complex human experiences.

The Mentally Forgotten is a photo essay dedicated to capturing these realities with dignity and respect. There is ongoing debate about photographing those who are suffering, but telling these stories the right way matters. When done ethically, it can challenge perceptions, create awareness, and push for change.

This work continues, focusing on those who are too often ignored. When someone has lived through it, they understand how to give voice to those still struggling. I’ve been displaced, homeless—not due to drug addiction, but because of un-diagnosed PTSD and bipolar disorder, which took a toll on my life and my family. I understand the hardships that come with being displaced for any reason. I know there is a better way, and all of us can reach it if we simply put ourselves aside long enough to remember and acknowledge that we are all the same.