Growing up, Bryce Evans experienced depression and anxiety — but he didn't fully understand what he was going through. Bryce turned to photography for unique ways to express his soul, using the creative medium as a therapeutic tool to start conversations around mental health. "Through my photos, I created stories about loneliness," says Bryce.

Discussions surrounding mental health have always been plagued with stigma and judgement. But Bryce, an artist of catharsis and founder of The One Project, has been teaching, writing and speaking around the world about the healing power of photos for mental health. He emphasizes how all human beings are hardwired for connection and need healthy relationships to thrive. Social connection helps lower anxiety and depression, regulates our emotions, results in higher self-esteem and empathy, and improves our immune system.

As an award-winning photographer, marketing consultant and community builder, Bryce has worked with top international brands to build a positive social impact. His first photographic series, The One Project, gained recognition for one photo based around an intense story of bullying. To bring it to life, Bryce walked around a mall and asked people, "What's the worst thing anyone has ever said to you? "We had sticky notes and a marker for them to write their answers. We collected around 100 different notes and put them on school lockers. It was heartbreaking."

The resulting image inspired an anti-bullying campaign with Lush Cosmetics where people were invited to erase the terrible words said to them. "We provided an empowering moment to wash the words away, to wipe them out. That's the microcosm of hope The One Project is giving people — the platform to share their stories and, if they're open to it, have unique opportunities to heal through art," says Bryce.

Over the years, The One Project has evolved into a mental health community that uses photography to reconnect with your intuition and develop healthy habits that are free of stigma, judgement, fear and negative narratives. "We're building resources to support people who are struggling with depression and anxiety. The number one thing is listening. People need someone who can just sit and listen and allow them to share what they're going through without judgment or advice. It allows you to acknowledge and validate someone by saying, 'I see you, I hear you.'"

Bryce's global network has fostered a safe digital space where people feel comfortable sharing their stories — many for the first time. "For me, the stories that hit the hardest are people sharing their experiences for the first time. A lot of times, they're heartbreaking situations. And they've held on for so long, says Bryce. The sense of liberation and empowerment that ensues has led community members to create programs that assist people facing similar situations. "We call it build your One Project. One woman who deals with chronic pain developed a website and program for other people to use therapeutic photography to deal with chronic pain. It's inspiring to see their empowerment — even the community love and support is beautiful," says Bryce.

Just shy of its 10 year anniversary, The One Project continues to build upon its original community roots. "There are two sides to the name. One is you are the most important project of your life. It's the introspective journey to understand how you can better take care of yourself and better understand your mental health. The other side of it is the extra interaction, which helps you and the other people as well. By participating together, we create something much larger. It's also a sense that you're never alone. People are always there to support you who are going through their own process too."

These authentic connections between members have provided much needed social interactions, support and healing. In the midst of COVID-19 isolation, Bryce found himself turning to medication for the first time as a way to deal with his mental health. Working through his own internal stigma around medication has been a challenge, but the love, kindness and compassion he's received from the community allowed him to talk candidly about his current struggles. "Although I'm the leader of this community, it's still the same space for me. I share the struggles I'm going through at the moment, and I know that speaking openly about medication will help other people open up," says Bryce.

The main theme of Bryce's work is to show how much strength and vulnerability comes from being honest about your struggles. Photography can be harnessed as a meditative and mindfulness tool for further introspection by allowing you to look through a new lens. "Your mental health often shifts you towards negative thought patterns. But photography opens you up to positive perspectives and healing," says Evans.

To learn more about Bryce and the healing power of photography, access his webinar and the entire Storytelling for Change series by becoming a PWB Member.

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