The photojournalist Ed Gold says that the mental health project was the most difficult

A photojournalist who had witnessed the war in Afghanistan said that a new mental health project was the most difficult to date.

Ed Gold interviewed 30 people living through Essex to build an image of what life was like fighting mental health difficulties.

He hoped that the six -week project would benefit The Lampard investigationwhich analyzes 2,000 deaths in the hospital units of the NHS.

“I want people to know that there are others who care, who see them and give them a voice,” said Gold.

He became aware of the number of people who had trouble with their mental health while speaking with Baristas in a Célachester coffee in winter 2024.

“The more I spoke with them all, the more I was surprised,” said the self -taught photographer, who published the images Her Futures positive magazine.

“I never realized how many people struggled with their mental health, taking antidepressants and seeing therapists.”

Mr. Gold hoped that allowing people to talk about their difficulties in real time would give a better understanding of others.

Lampard’s investigation examined deaths in Essex, but the photographer said the lessons should be learned before the death of people.

His interviews focused on 15 men and 15 women, aged 13 to 39, and took place in Colchester, Clacton-on-Sea and Braintree.

“I was moved to tears once or twice in various stories; this is probably the most difficult project I have ever concluded,” said Gold, who also took photos in Ukraine.

“It also gave me a huge frustration because I found that so many people were disappointed.”

He explained that an interview left him by feeling obliged to take the person to the hospital, such was his concerns about their well-being.

“I got angry and frustrated by people who don’t need the help they need,” said Gold.

“They were in tears and total despair, but passed anywhere.”

Mr. Gold said that even if he hoped that his work would inspire conversation, he feared that radical improvements in mental health care will be far away.

He added: “I have almost the impression that it is an endless project, I just don’t see how it will end.”

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