Marilyn Monroe has something in common with this millionaire

Hollywood star Marilyn Monroe, singer Sinead O' Connor and several others, famous, and not-so famous have battled mental illnesses. A young photographer stares at an issue clouded by social stigma, through her lens

Laila Vaziralli believes in the right to dream, and so, she decided to let members of Manav Foundation's rehabilitation centre in Mazgaon turn into anything they wanted to be. Sachin Tendulkar, a millionaire, a foreigner, a fireman, even a pilot. Working with props and imagination, she clicked a series of pictures that will be exhibited over the weekend at a show titled, I Want To Be. "I spent time with them, allowing them to share their dreams, and letting them live out their dream role," she smiles.

Organised as part of the foundation's week-long campaign, the exhibition tries to reach out to society and initiate a dialogue about mental disorders, hopes the photographer with a degree in photography from the London College of Communications. "We hope to wipe out the stigma attached to metal disorders so that sufferers can discuss their ailments without the fear of being judged. Pamphlets and information will be available at the venue because the goal is to emphasise that most mental disorders can be treated and help is at hand," says Laila, who has been working with Aseema, an NGO that supports underprivileged children and the Manav Foundation, since May this year. In London, she taught photography to young Bangladeshi immigrants, and discovered her passion for social work along the way. "I wouldn't call myself a photographer. I see myself as a social worker, photographer, artist, teacher... so many things."

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Mental illness can be cured
Yvette Lee, a social worker who conducts counseling sessions at the rehabilitation centre, says the distinction between mental retardation and mental illness fades due to a lack of understanding. "Castigated sufferers can forget how to participate in social conversations. Simple things like lethargy, appetite disorders, fear, a lack of social interaction, could all be symptomatic of mental illness," she says. Comparing it to an allergy, Yvette says, "Since the symptoms don't manifest physically, these conditions are feared and people find it hard to believe that they can be treated. But with medication and therapy, most sufferers can lead completely normal lives."

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