For immediate release: February 16, 2023
Photography show lays a foundation for destigmatizing mental health.
Douglas County Libraries is proud to host The Sammy Project, a traveling photography show that brings awareness to mental health and seeks to destigmatize it through personal portraits and stories of young adults living with mental health challenges. The Sammy Project, by Whitney Yeager, is on display at the library’s Castle Rock location (100 S. Wilcox St.) through February, and will travel to the libraries in Highlands Ranch in March, Parker in April, and Lone Tree in May.
“The power of the Sammy Project is that it shows the faces of mental health and tells their stories,” said Jaime Gotlieb, Community Services and Partnerships Manager at Douglas County Libraries (DCL). “Hopefully, by normalizing conversations around mental health, more people will open up about their struggles and seek the support and help they need in whatever way is most appropriate.”
The stories shared in the Sammy Project can show others who might be struggling that they are not alone and that happiness and success are completely within reach.
According to Gotlieb, mental health is a strategic priority for DCL. “We are looking for opportunities to support the very important work being done in our communities by mental health professionals in different community organizations,” she said.
DCL currently has active relationships with several organizations, including Douglas County Mental Health Initiative, AllHealth Network, and Douglas County School District. In addition, Douglas County Libraries Foundation has provided books to groups such as SecondAct Women and Douglas County School District to help support mental health programming.
The library also takes the mental health of its employees seriously, providing training and resources for staff to use personally and/or in their work.
“Ultimately, we would love to be part of the solution of encouraging the positive mental health of our communities,” Gotlieb said.
The Sammy Project exhibit at DCL is free and open during normal library hours. For more information, visit DCL.org/featured-events.
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About The Sammy Project
The Sammy Project is a photography show in honor of Sam Yeager, artist Whitney Yeager’s son. It takes great courage to write about one’s mental health, which traditionally is kept very private. In doing so, the participants in this project take agency over their struggles, and in the process we honor our son, brother, grandson, friend and neighbor Samuel Boone Yeager, whose life was cut short in 2021. Had he felt comfortable to talk about his mental illness and ask for help, Sam might still be here today.
The mission of this photography show is to lay the foundation toward destigmatizing mental health. With suicide on the rise (Colorado is traditionally listed in the top 10 states in the nation for suicide), having an open attitude about our internal struggles is more important than ever before. If people could talk as easily about mental health as they can about diabetes or any other ailment, countless lives could be improved and possibly saved. Learn more at thesammyproject.com. Anyone interested in participating in the project may email Whitney at the following email address: whitneyyeager@icloud.com.
