Searching For The Happiness

During the covid-19 pandemic, record numbers of people have suffered with poor mental health and reports of domestic violence have increased exponentially. Sadly, survivors of domestic violence often find that a profound lack of understanding leads to victim shaming, isolating them further and compounding the physiological effects of consistent and prolonged distress.
With a culture of toxic masculinity, men especially are inclined to suppress emotions, meaning self-diagnosis, self-medication and self-harm are a more common course of action than seeking support. Combined with a regressive attitude towards mental health provisions, help is not always easy to find when needed.

Searching For The Happiness tells the story of a survivor of domestic violence throughout childhood and the subsequent mental health challenges they now face as an adult. The series explores their visual memories of traumatic events and triggers, challenging an unequivocal reading of the world through ambiguous narrative and an atmosphere of suppressed trauma. The series reflects upon a need for changing attitudes towards both survivors of domestic violence and those who suffer from mental health illnesses.