Two Tyneside men, Alan Bell and Andy Thomson, have turned their personal battles with mental health into a powerful new venture that aims to inspire and support others. The pair met on a photography course at college and bonded over their shared experiences, ultimately forming a close friendship that led to the creation of their own video and photography business—Vision Impact Photography.
Alan from Killingworth and Andy from North Shields have come from diverse professional backgrounds. Alan spent years working in security, including roles at major retail and industrial organisations, while Andy worked in the renewable energy sector, building offshore wind turbines. Despite their different paths, both struggled with mental health challenges that shaped their journeys.
Photography became a crucial outlet for them, offering a creative way to manage their well-being. Their shared passion evolved into something bigger—using visual storytelling to document and highlight mental health and neurodiversity issues, breaking stigmas and encouraging open conversations.
The mission behind Vision Impact Photography is to provide a platform for individuals to share their stories of resilience. Through powerful visual narratives, Alan and Andy aim to help people open up about their struggles and triumphs, emphasising that it’s okay to talk about mental health.
Their projects range from covering MMA and jiu-jitsu events—capturing the mental and physical battles of fighters—to more socially impactful work, such as creating a training video for school transport workers to better understand the experiences of neurodiverse children. This groundbreaking initiative, filmed from the child’s perspective, aims to build empathy and awareness in those responsible for their daily transport.
Alan explained how mental health issues have affected his life.
“My eldest sister passed away when she was six, and I was only 18 months old. While I didn’t consciously understand it at the time, the trauma affected everyone around me, which in turn shaped my own mental well-being. Growing up, various experiences continued to impact my mental health, but I didn’t feel I had anyone to talk to. Over time, I built walls around myself and avoided discussing it. It wasn’t until I met my wife, Danielle, and particularly over the past two years, that I’ve truly started to open up about it. Talking more about mental health has been transformative, but it’s also made me realise just how much it has shaped my life.”
Andy has a similar viewpoint:
“I’ve been seeking answers for some of my struggles, and last year, I was told I may be neurodivergent. At 43, I’ve lived for decades not fully understanding myself—always feeling different, confused about why I struggled while those around me seemed to thrive. I was masking, adapting my personality depending on the situation, and self-medicating through binge drinking, which led to a cycle of chaos. But after looking into neurodivergence, watching YouTube videos, and researching, I finally started to recognise myself in other people’s experiences. Seeking assessments and beginning a college course aligned perfectly, almost as if it was meant to be. Now, I’m making significant changes, quitting alcohol, and creating a more stable, fulfilling life.”
Since launching, Alan and Andy have found themselves in rooms and conversations they never imagined. Their work has gained recognition across North Tyneside and beyond, with invitations to networking events, collaborations with local councils, and they are now well on their way to building a powerful community-driven movement.