Canterbury photographer and writer Guy Frederick says Christchurch residents are living with ongoing mental distress as a result of the earthquakes and believes his photojournalism exhibition titled The Space Between Words will promote wellbeing and recovery.

Canterbury photographer and writer Guy Frederick says Christchurch residents are living with ongoing mental distress as a result of the earthquakes and believes his photojournalism exhibition titled The Space Between Words will promote wellbeing and recovery.

“The earthquakes have been incomparable in New Zealand’s history – and, more to the point, they haven’t stopped,” he says.

“Post-traumatic stress is generally associated with a one off event so, as the aftershocks have continued, so too have the compounding nature of their impact on mental distress. They run deep.”

The Space Between Words launches at Central Library Tuam - Te Kete Wananga o Tuam in Christchurch, on Monday 8 October.

After the February 2011 quake Guy went out into the community to “find out what people had done in their lives to help them process the events and move along the long path of recovery”.

His interest developed into a photojournalism project that was funded by a 2011 NZ Mental Health Media Grant (www.mediagrants.org.nz), supported by the Frozen Funds Charitable Trust, the Like Minds, Like Mine Programme and the Mental Health Foundation. 

The finished project, The Space Between Words, tells the stories of 13 Christchurch individuals who share a cross-section of personal experiences that reflect a range of responses to the earthquakes.

“These stories are not controversial or sensational,” he says. “They are about the unspoken stuff - the thoughts and feelings of individuals - and what we have all lived through and are continuing to live through in Christchurch.

“There are inspiring lessons for all of us in these stories,” he says. “My hope is that sharing them will promote wellbeing and empower the recovery of the Christchurch community.”

Guy also hopes those viewing the exhibition will take on board the simple messages in these stories such as, being kind and compassionate towards yourself and others, knowing that it is okay to feel overwhelmed, giving yourself time to heal and process without judgement, and asking for help, which, he says, is potentially the hardest act of all.

“What we have been through is massive and we shouldn’t beat ourselves up for feeling bad – healing takes time,” says Guy. “What is clear is that relationships and connections are important. It is the people in your life that get you through at the end of the day and everyone who has at least one person in their life that they can talk to and love, gets through just that little bit easier.”

Mental Health Foundation chief executive Judi Clements says Guy’s project gives a voice to people whose experience of living through the Christchurch quakes have not been heard before.

“Their insight and courage is inspirational. We hope that people who view Guy’s exhibit are touched by these stories,” Ms Clements says.

Acting libraries and information manager Pat Street says that she is pleased the Central Library Tuam is able to work in partnership with the Mental Health Foundation and Guy to host this exhibition.

“It’s great that central Christchurch is blossoming with new things to do and see and that Central Library Tuam can provide a viewing space for this exhibition. The chance to see the photos is yet another reason to pop in and enjoy the library's range of resources and services. We're looking forward to welcoming new and existing customers to Central Library Tuam."

• The Space Between Words exhibition runs from 8 to 28 October at the Central Library Tuam - Te Kete Wananga o Tuam, 121 Tuam Street, Christchurch. Guy Frederick is an established Christchurch based photographer and writer (www.guyfrederick.co.nz).