This Man Tells The Story of War Veterans Through Striking Photography

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychological condition characterized by severe anxiety, nightmares, recurrent thoughts about a frightening incident, or flashbacks. It occurs in inviduals who have experienced or who have witnessed traumatic or life threatening events, such as military veterans, rape, or torture victims.

Several war veterans experience PTSD and suicidal thoughts. A study shows that in the United States, approximately 22 war veterans commit suicide everyday. Although there is no doubt that these soldiers are brave, imagine living a life of constant battle to defend your life and the lives of other people. When they are finally sent home, these soldiers have to undergo a huge change just to get back to their normal lives. For some, this is not an easy task as some soldiers are psychologically scarred. Unfortunately, this may just be one of the many negative consequences of war.

People who don’t know what its like to live in this kind of situation may not readily understand the extent of the negative effects of PTSD and suicide. Devin Mitchell, a photographer and a Sociology student, travelled across the US to collate the stories of the war veterans. He did this to open the minds of people as to what these soldiers are going through. He started the Veteran Vision Project, which illustrates how the soldiers feel after their military service through pictures.

Mitchell’s photos captured who the soldiers are in and out of their uniforms, and allowed them to show their own identities and tell their own stories.

Below are some samples of the Mitchell’s striking photography, and a mini documentary about some of the soldier’s battle against PTSD and suicide:

Watch the video:

H/T: Veteran Vision Project