Auntie, by Mexico City-based photographer Ana Hop, is an intimate portrayal of her aunt Arminda, who has lived with paranoid schizophrenia for many years.
The diagnosis came when Ana was still an adolescent, though at the time, she didn’t understand what it meant. Arminda was her favorite aunt. The pair were close and often played together.
One day, Ana’s father told her that Arminda was sick—but didn’t explain why. As Ana grew older, she had more and more questions: Why had it taken so long to diagnose her? Why didn’t medication work? Why couldn’t she live a normal life? Gradually, she began to understand what it meant to have schizophrenia.
“When I discovered what the illness was about and how there was so little to treat it, I realized how alone those with mental illness are.”
Schizophrenia affects about 1% of the global population, with estimates suggesting that approximately 20 million people worldwide live with the disorder. However, due to underreporting and misdiagnosis, the actual numbers are thought to be much higher.
It is an illness plagued by stigma. Many associate it with violent behavior or assume that all individuals with schizophrenia experience the same symptoms. In reality, it is far more complex. Most people diagnosed with Schizophrenia are not violent—in fact, they are more likely to be victims of violence as well as social isolation due to widespread misunderstanding.
Ana saw this firsthand with her aunt. According to her diagnosis, Arminda was not allowed to socialize or work, as some people with schizophrenia can. Her life was deeply isolated. Her family kept her condition a secret for many years. Wanting to share her aunt’s story, Ana began photographing her.
“Mental illness is not quite understood by people that don’t have one. Her struggle and story made me think that most people with this struggle don’t exist in society. I wanted her life not to be ignored.”
Her images depict everyday moments from her aunt’s life—deeply intimate, candid portraits, alongside objects and details from her restricted surroundings. The sensitivity in these images is evident, shaped by the close relationship between the two. There is a palpable tenderness, but also a quiet sadness when you understand the context. Arminda is always pictured alone, often appearing frail. Yet, moments of joy exist too—in one image, she smiles at the camera through a small mirror she holds.
Scans and photographs of old family images—often showing a younger, happier Arminda—are interwoven throughout the project. Some of these images are torn, aged, or faded, subtly reflecting that this chapter of her life has long since passed. In many of them, she is smiling, surrounded by others, evoking a sense of joy that contrasts sharply with the isolation of her life today.
The images and objects she holds also serve as reminders of the stories Arminda shared with Ana about her past—stories of a life now distant and difficult to grasp. In a few images, however, her gaze is solemn, leading one to wonder: Was she already beginning to battle her illness back then?
The project was a challenging one for Ana. Arminda, conscious of her weight, sometimes complained about looking fat in photos—though at other times, she enjoyed them and even asked Ana to take her picture. Her family also struggled with the project. Though they now talk openly about Arminda’s illness, they were hesitant at first. They worried about exposing such a vulnerable story and questioned the ethics of sharing it. However, the small amount of money the project has generated—all of which has gone to support Arminda—helped ease their concerns.
The project has sparked conversations about schizophrenia, a topic that many people avoid. Ana found that common misconceptions about the illness were frequent, and that people’s general understanding of mental health is often lacking due to the absence of open discussion.
But it also helped further open her own eyes, both to her aunt’s story and to those like her who suffer from schizophrenia.
“I realized that there is not enough research. I’ve learned how difficult it is to get a diagnosis. Her pain comes from feelings and thoughts, but the rest of us don’t understand that kind of pain—we only understand physical pain. People with schizophrenia are often excluded from society, which creates a deep sense of loneliness.”
One hopes that Arminda’s story will foster greater awareness and understanding, allowing her, and others like her, to live a more fulfilling life.
All Images © Ana Hop