An Ilford photographer takes away the stigma of mental illness by empowering his subjects to proudly display their disabilities.

Ilford Recorder: Photographs from Time to Change exhibit. Picture: Peter MirowPhotographs from Time to Change exhibit. Picture: Peter Mirow (Image: Archant)

Peter Mirow, 40 of Ilford, found out he had Type 1 diabetes when he was 13 years old and soon after that he started hearing a running commentary of voices in his head which was later diagnosed as paranoid schizophrenia.

Peter's struggles with his mental health led him to lose his job at Barclay's bank 10 years ago but since then he's channeled his energy into photography and showcasing others who are dealing with their physical or mental disabilities.

Ilford Recorder: Photographer Peter Mirow. Picture: Peter MirowPhotographer Peter Mirow. Picture: Peter Mirow (Image: Archant)

Peter said: "I try to engage people in conversations around mental and physical disabilities and make an invisible disability visible through my photographs."

He worked with Time to Change, a charity which aims to tackle mental health stigma and discrimination to put on a photography exhibition as part of a London Borough of Culture series in February called "Who are 1 in 4?"

Ilford Recorder: Exhibit at Whipps Cross. Picture: Peter MirowExhibit at Whipps Cross. Picture: Peter Mirow (Image: Archant)

The exhibition highlighted the one in four people who experience mental health problems in the UK every year, and show how their disabilities are not obvious on the outside.

Peter said: "I have a disability but you wouldn't be able to tell by just looking at me."

Ilford Recorder: Preeti Positive from exhibit Who are 1 in 4. Picture: Peter MirowPreeti Positive from exhibit Who are 1 in 4. Picture: Peter Mirow (Image: Archant)

He photographed his subjects twice - once with a negative image showing how they're perceived in society and another postitive one that shows how they feel on the outside.

He is also currently working with TfL on exhibiting some of his photographs in its offices.

Ilford Recorder: Jo Positive from exhibit Who are 1 in 4. Picture: Peter MirowJo Positive from exhibit Who are 1 in 4. Picture: Peter Mirow (Image: Archant)

The Tfl series consists of black and white photographs, inspired by the film Schindler's List, with a pop of purple, which is a colour that marks mental health.

The photographs empower their subjects to proudly display their mental disabilities.

Ilford Recorder: Hannah Positive from exhibit Who are 1 in 4. Picture: Peter MirowHannah Positive from exhibit Who are 1 in 4. Picture: Peter Mirow (Image: Archant)

Peter said he has seen a lot of progress in the conversation around mental health in the last 10 years.

He said: "When I was first diagnosed it was a different world. Now there is a feeling that if you have a mental disability it's just another part of your life."

Ilford Recorder: Hannah Negative from exhibit Who are 1 in 4. Picture: Peter MirowHannah Negative from exhibit Who are 1 in 4. Picture: Peter Mirow (Image: Archant)

You can see samples of Peter's work at www.rollingjovi.com.

Ilford Recorder: Preeti Negative from exhibit Who are 1 in 4. Picture: Peter MirowPreeti Negative from exhibit Who are 1 in 4. Picture: Peter Mirow (Image: Archant)

Ilford Recorder: Jo Negative from exhibit Who are 1 in 4. Picture: Peter MirowJo Negative from exhibit Who are 1 in 4. Picture: Peter Mirow (Image: Archant)