See the Lives of China’s Mentally Ill

4 minute read

To live with mental illness in China is to live in an invisible world.

Of the more than 100 million victims living with some form of mental illness in China, 16 percent are classified as severe, according to a 2009 report by China’s National Center for Mental Health. Yet, inadequate psychiatric care and social stigmas have pushed many out of the public sphere, denying family members the much-needed support they need.

This year’s Ian Parry scholarship recipient, 23-year-old Chinese photographer Yuyang Liu, has set about illuminating this invisible world. He recently documented families crippled by mental disease across the southern province of Guangdong, one of China’s wealthiest regions. “It is often the case that one family is impoverished because of a family member’s illness,” Liu tells TIME.

The project, At Home With Mental Illness, which aims to highlight the inefficient government efforts, won him his scholarship.

Liu first became aware of the issue when he received a newsletter from a Chronicle Disease Prevention Center in a small town, which mentioned its effort in helping those struggling with mental health issues and their families. “I was blown away,” Liu says. “[I realized] that although the patients are largely invisible in the society, they and their families do live a real life.”

With leads provided by local NGOs and online forums, Liu gained access to six houses, photographing the interactions among the mentally ill, their families and the larger society. “I don’t want to photograph how miserable they are even though some of the pictures will inevitably convey that, but I want to focus more on the support between them and their families, and capture the viewers’ attention that way,” Liu says.

Among them, the Xiao family’s situation is especially grim. With a mother suffering from severe mental illness at home, Xiao, a father of two, has to work every morning. Before leaving, he used to tie his five-year-old daughter with a rope attached to a wooden stake so she wouldn’t be able to wander off. When social workers discovered the girl, she did not wear any pants. The father had thought that since no one could untie her to use a bathroom, it would prevent her from wetting her clothes.

Liu immediately partnered with Chinese Internet and technology giant, Tencent, after photographing the Xiao family’s situation, and raised 4,000 RMB ($645) for the child. But he hoped that the fundraising would benefit more than one family and that he would be able to raise awareness for the socially disadvantaged group as a whole, he says. Now with the scholarship’s support of £3,500 ($5,450), Liu plans to expand his coverage to other regions in China.

The scholarship, named after photojournalist Ian Parry, who died while covering the Romanian revolution in 1989, is given every year to an aspiring photographer under 24, the age Parry died. “[The prize] is a great encouragement for me personally,” Liu says. “There’re so many amazing photographers as my predecessors, and I’m really happy to be included in the family.”

Early this year, Liu had contemplated going into commercial photography for a better income, but soon dismissed the idea, and winning the award serves as a major encouragement for him to push through a short period of hesitancy.

“The judges felt this was an outstanding and brave body of simple, honest images,” said the jury in a statement. Along with Liu, Hosam Katan of Syria was highly commended this year. Hashem Shakeri of Iran, Isadora Kosofsky, who was published on TIME LightBox last year, and Salahuddin Ahmed of Bangladesh were also commended. Each of them will receive a cash award of £500 ($780). “Every single portfolio selected for this year’s scholarship has human interest at its heart, and that’s why this award is so special,” said Don McCullin, combat photographer and a trustee on the scholarship’s board.

See Isadora Kosofsky’s winning story below.

The Intersection of Love and Loss: Confronting Youth Incarceration

Brothers Vinny and David stand together as the sky darkens before a summer storm.
Brothers Vinny and David stand together as the sky darkens before a summer storm.Isadora Kosofsky
Vinny, 13, stands in command call before entering his cell at the juvenile detention center.
Vinny, 13, stands in command call before entering his cell at the juvenile detention center.Isadora Kosofsky
Ready to appear in court, Vinny is shackled to another youth.
Ready to appear in court, Vinny is shackled to another youth.Isadora Kosofsky
Vinny lies on his cell bunk.
Vinny lies on his cell bunk.Isadora Kosofsky
Vinny eats his first meal in the detention center cafeteria.
Vinny eats his first meal in the detention center cafeteria.Isadora Kosofsky
Vinny's mother Eve comforts him during visitation at the detention center.
Vinny's mother Eve comforts him during visitation at the detention center.Isadora Kosofsky
A family portrait of David, then 13, Vinny, then 8, and Michael, then 3.
A family portrait of David, then 13, Vinny, then 8, and Michael, then 3.Isadora Kosofsky
Eve cries after learning that the court will not allow Vinny to live with her and has ordered him to live with his paternal aunt.
Eve cries after learning that the court will not allow Vinny to live with her and has ordered him to live with his paternal aunt.Isadora Kosofsky
Eve places her head on David's back, while he draws a picture of a clown in his notebook.
Eve places her head on David's back, while he draws a picture of a clown in his notebook.Isadora Kosofsky
David and his father, Dave, leave a motel.
David and his father, Dave, leave a motel.Isadora Kosofsky
David and his girlfriend Felicia have been together for four years.
David and his girlfriend Felicia have been together for four years.Isadora Kosofsky
David feeds ice cream to Felicia.
David feeds ice cream to Felicia.Isadora Kosofsky
David joined a gang in his early teens after his grandmother passed away.
David joined a gang in his early teens after his grandmother passed away.Isadora Kosofsky
With a warrant out for his arrest, David cries in fear that police will find him and take him away from his family.
With a warrant out for his arrest, David cries in fear that police will find him and take him away from his family.Isadora Kosofsky
David, 19, sits in the recreation yard of the jail at night.
David, 19, sits in the recreation yard of the jail at night.Isadora Kosofsky
Felicia and their 10-month-old daughter Lily see David through video visitation.
Felicia and their 10-month-old daughter Lily see David through video visitation.Isadora Kosofsky
David stands at night next to a fence after being released.
David stands at night next to a fence after being released.Isadora Kosofsky
David pushes his daughter in a stroller.
David pushes his daughter in a stroller.Isadora Kosofsky
David and Felicia smile as they teach Lily to walk.
David and Felicia smile as they teach Lily to walk.Isadora Kosofsky
David and his youngest brother, Michael, 8. Michael pines for David's attention. "I want to be just like my brother," Michael said.
David and his youngest brother, Michael, 8. Michael pines for David's attention. "I want to be just like my brother," Michael said.Isadora Kosofsky
Michael playfully punches his sister Elycia's cheek.
Michael playfully punches his sister Elycia's cheek.Isadora Kosofsky
Elycia grips her mom's leg and won't let go. After Vinny was held at juvenile detention and subsequently sent to live with his aunt in a town three hours away, Elycia often cries for her brother.
Elycia grips her mom's leg and won't let go. After Vinny was held at juvenile detention and subsequently sent to live with his aunt in a town three hours away, Elycia often cries for her brother.Isadora Kosofsky
Eve speaks intensely to Elycia. Michael says his mom "doesn't mean it," when she is angry.
Eve speaks intensely to Elycia. Michael says his mom "doesn't mean it," when she is angry.Isadora Kosofsky
Michael seals his mouth with tape. "I'm lonely. No kids to play with," he says.
Michael seals his mouth with tape. "I'm lonely. No kids to play with," he says.Isadora Kosofsky
Eve holds Michael in the pool at a motel.
Eve holds Michael in the pool at a motel.Isadora Kosofsky
Vinny punches trash bins behind his aunt's home. He finds it hard to escape the "empty feeling" he gets when he thinks or dreams about juvenile detention.
Vinny punches trash bins behind his aunt's home. He finds it hard to escape the "empty feeling" he gets when he thinks or dreams about juvenile detention.Isadora Kosofsky
Vinny, Michael and Elycia play together on a trampoline. This is Vinny's first visit with his siblings since beginning his new life with his aunt.
Vinny, Michael and Elycia play together on a trampoline. This is Vinny's first visit with his siblings since beginning his new life with his aunt.Isadora Kosofsky
Vinny and his sister, Elycia.
Vinny and his sister, Elycia.Isadora Kosofsky
Vinny, now 15, and David, now 21, lay down at night after spending the day together. "Vinny broke into my heart"" says David when asked about their bond.
Vinny, now 15, and David, now 21, lay down at night after spending the day together. "Vinny broke into my heart"" says David when asked about their bond.Isadora Kosofsky
Vinny looks at David and Lily before saying goodbye.
Vinny looks at David and Lily before saying goodbye.Isadora Kosofsky

Ye Ming is a contributing writer to TIME LightBox. Follow her on Twitter @yemingphoto and Instagram.

At Home With Mental Illness
Zhendong Liang, 15, stands in the street watching people pass by. He lives in a small village with a population of a few hundreds. He was dismissed from elementary school in 2009, because his school thought he was a bad influence on other students. Zhaoqing, Guangdong Province, China.Yuyang Liu
Yongyi Ou, a 12-year-old girl is kissing her grandmother Mei Lin
Yongyi Ou, a 12-year-old girl is kissing her grandmother Mei Lin, while Yueyi Ou, the older sister, is standing in the room and smiling. This is a five-people family with four mental disease patients. 83-year-old Mei Lin has to support the family by her own. Zhaoqing, China.Yuyang Liu
83-year-old Mei Lin is begging her daughter Xiaolin Long to go h
83-year-old Mei Lin is begging her daughter Xiaolin Long to go home, as Xiaolin usualy hang out for several days. Zhaoqing, China.Yuyang Liu
At Home With Mental Illness
9-year-old Tong Xiao and his younger sister Ling Xiao are protecting their box with snacks from a pig. Their mother, Tongyimg Liu, is having her dinner in the corner. Maoming, China.Yuyang Liu
Jiagui Su stands on a ladder to the loft of his adobe where his
Jiagui Su stands on a ladder in his adobe’s loft. His bed is under the floor. Jiagui has been living at home for the past ten years. Zhaoqing, China.Yuyang Liu
At Home With Mental Illness
Jiagui Su remembers the past years when he had severe mental illness. He felt he was headless and wanted to find his head back. When he feels better, he picks leaves for a living. He wants to find a new job. Zhaoqing, China.Yuyang Liu
15-year-old Zhendong Liang is blowing to help his mother to make
15-year-old Zhendong Liang is helping his mother blowing to make a fire. Liang has been expelled from school since 2009, because he was considered to have bad effect on other students. Zhaoqing, China.Yuyang Liu
Jianwen Pang is smoking and peeing in his house. He loves writin
Jianwen Pang is smoking and peeing in his house. He loves to write poems about the loneliness and sorrow he experienced back when he was chained. Zahaoqing, China.Yuyang Liu
At Home With Mental Illness
Shaoping Xiao, 13, is putting make up on herself in her bedroom, which is full of garbage. Shaoping lives with her 72-year-old father and psychotic mother. Maoming, China.Yuyang Liu
At Home With Mental Illness
Xiuyun Li sits in the living room. She was pregnant at 49. Her family earns 1 USD per person per day. Maoming, China. Yuyang Liu
At Home With Mental Illness
Mei Lin, 83, makes supper for her family. They usually have two meals a day. Four out of five in her family suffer from mental illness, so Lin is the sole support for the household. Zhaoqing, Guangdong Province, China.Yuyang Liu
At Home With Mental Illness
Xiuyun Li, who has a mental illness, and her husband clean their living room. The family of three earns about $3 per day. Maoming, Guangdong Province, China. Yuyang Liu

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