Covid-19: Life Through a Lens
Hope, compassion, and kindness on the frontlines of mental health care
About this project
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust provides the most extensive portfolio of mental health services in the UK. This exhibition celebrates the compassion, dedication and determination shown by our staff and volunteers throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. It reflects the diverse range of our staff working on the frontline, and behind the scenes to keep services running.
For many people who need our support – whether in hospital or in the community – the threat of contracting the virus, together with isolation and separation from loved ones due to lockdown and safety measures, led to further pressures on their mental health.
Our staff and volunteers, while grappling with concerns for their own safety and that of their loved ones, worked tirelessly finding new ways to support the people we care for safely in partnership with their carers and family members.
Due to the lasting impact of this unprecedented pandemic, the demand for mental health services continues to increase. Before we collectively take a deep breath and carry on, let’s take a moment to celebrate our wonderful staff and volunteers whose selfless service provides a vital lifeline to so many vulnerable people in our communities.
A project led by the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Communications Department.
Funded by Maudsley Charity
Photography by Ben McDade
With thanks to Bethlem Gallery
During the Covid-19 pandemic, our brilliant staff and volunteers worked tirelessly finding new ways to support people to use our services safely, in partnership with their carers and family members. We wanted to capture these moments with this exhibition to celebrate our staff and volunteers, whose service provides a lifeline and vital support to so many people in our communities. Thank you to all of you who worked so hard during such a challenging time and remained so positive and dedicated.
As the charity of South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, we are always keenly aware of the daily care and commitment of staff and volunteers, but never more so than during the pandemic. We are pleased to fund this photography exhibition which shines a light on aspects of service that many people never see or consider. This project has uncovered story after story of resilience and dedication under the most difficult circumstances right across the Trust and we’re proud to be involved.
This has clearly been a very difficult time for mental health services, and I have been incredibly moved by the people I have met, and how they have adapted and found ways of overcoming the many challenges faced over the last two years is truly humbling. It’s been such a privilege to be able to contribute to Covid-19 life through a lens and help celebrate the people at the heart of these services, sharing their stories for many generations to come.