MAHOTAS

Mental health disorders affect members of every community, regardless of color, culture, or income. But the stigma associated with these disorders can obscure their prevalence, as well as the scale of investment needed to provide adequate care and treatment. The Mahotas Psychiatric Hospital stands in contrast to the majority of psychiatric hospitals in Mozambique, extending its services beyond standard inpatient psychosocial treatment to include a community reintegration program. This service includes a form of occupational therapy in which patients are encouraged to engage in a range of activities, or jobs, including farming, gardening, animal husbandry, sewing, and artisanal crafting.

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Each person who sat for a portrait was asked to bring a symbolic item, or in some cases an animal, that represents their occupation within the hospital. Participation in the series was entirely voluntary, however, out of ethical considerations for patients with cognitive disorders, their identity was protected and obscured by the item that they brought with them.