TRIGGER WARNING!
This website contains poetry and true stories about trauma, personality disorders, suicidal thoughts, self-harming, depression and other significant mental health issues, as well as personal stories of emotional neglect and physical and sexual abuse, which some people might find disturbing.
WE ARE UPDATING THIS WEBSITE!
We are moving things around a little, and adding new features including: INTERVIEWS, PERSONAL JOURNEYS, a POETRY WRITING COURSE, ADVERTS, a regular COLUMN, and a WRITING BETTER POETRY page. Sign up to our newsletter below to be kept fully updated!
Poetry for Mental Health
Supporting people with mental health challenges by motivating and inspiring them to write poetry.
"Probably the largest and most visited website for poetry and mental health on the net!"
"Poetry for Mental Health was formed at the outbreak of Covid; helping people cope mentally by inspiring them to write poetry. Four years, four books, hundreds of poets, and thousands of pieces of poetry later, we are still inspiring people to write poetry for positive mental health! However, this website is run voluntarily, and with no private funding or grants, and we now need help to continue. There are three ways you can do this: 1) Subscribe to our monthly magazine (it is very cheap!), 2) Donate (every little helps!), or sponsor Poetry for Mental Health."
Poetry for Mental Health does not make a profit - EVERYTHING goes back into publishing and promoting poetry for positive mental health.
ROBIN BARRATT - Founder POETRY FOR MENTAL HEALTH
"No matter what your age, background and experience, culture or identity; whether an established writer with many published titles to your credit, or an aspiring poet who has never written a word of poetry in your life, our philosophy here is to embrace, welcome and support everyone, everywhere suffering from mental health challenges, and help you cope through words and poetry ...
Get writing!"
Poem of the week ...
Week Commencing Monday 13th May, 2024
THE CHEMICALS OF TRUTH
By Sam Hendrian
Getting advice about depression
Is like turning an English essay into a math problem,
Wine into water:
“Drink up and you’ll feel better!”
Still I felt in need of pity
So I told her I was sad
And wandered around aimlessly
Searching for a smile that meant something.
She knew I hated “sorry”
So she said it in another way:
“I hope your brain chemicals
Find their way back home.”
Couldn’t mock her good intentions
Though I did so privately,
Wishing my English essay
Wasn’t seen as such a clear-cut math problem.
Alright, maybe it’s chemical,
But I can’t change the chemicals of truth,
The ice bucket to the face
That comes from dissolving delusions.
“Drink up and you’ll feel better!”
Water into wine,
Math problems into English essays
For which there’s no good advice.
ABOUT SAM: Sam is a lifelong storyteller, striving to foster empathy and compassion through art. Originally from the Chicago suburbs, he now resides in Los Angeles, where he primarily works as an independent filmmaker and has just completed his first feature film 'Terrificman', a deeply personal ode to the power of human kindness.
Instagram: @samhendrian143
CLICK HERE for more Featured Poetry.
“Poetry can be mind-bogglingly confusing or ever-so simple. It can be several pages of complicated verse, or just a few simple, easy-to-read words. But one thing we know for sure is that poetry is a story, a journey, or indeed a statement, and this is created by a careful composition of words and structure, with a sole purpose of evoking strong feeling or emotion. Poetry is about form (however that is defined), purpose, and establishing your voice.”
Books
Click on the covers for further details. With thousands of contributions from hundreds of writers and poets around the world, our anthologies are probably some of the largest collections on mental health ever published. All our titles are now
FREE TO DOWNLOAD as pdf e-books, however, please buy a copy too, as ALL profits from the sales of our titles go towards promoting poetry for positive mental health.
We have started to compile MENTAL HEALTH Vol.2. CLICK HERE to contribute. You can also sponsor this title. Contact us for further details.
Magazine
New for 2024!!!
Our
NEW monthly
Poetry for Mental Health magazine featuring poetry on the topics and themes of mental health from writers and poets around the world, as well as lots of poetry writing advice, tips & techniques, articles, essays, poet profiles, personal stories, and a forthcoming regular poetry competition!
"Probably the only magazine in the world exclusively dedicated to poetry for mental health!"
Featured Poets
Featuring almost 60 individual poets with up to six pieces of their work. a little about the author, and their contact / social media details.
"People can benefit from writing poetry because it can take the images and the talk in your head and transfer it to paper. It’s like getting the words out of your head so that they don’t linger there."
Nadine Dunseith (contributor)
Featured Poetry (2024)
Poetry on the themes of mental health, from poets around the world.
Contribute
Showcase your poetry for mental health and let others read your words and work.
Personal Journeys
In their own words, poets and writers write about their own personal journey with mental health.
Interviews
Poetry for Mental Health chats to writers and poets about their journey with mental health.
Writing Better Poetry
COMING SOON ... A range of tasks, techniques and exercises to help you write better poetry.
Publish your Poetry Collection
Do you have a collection of poetry you would like to see published? Would you like to share your mental health poetry with others? Contact us for inexpensive self-publishing options - in both paperback and Kindle - via the global Amazon platforms.
Help & Support
Charities, groups and organisations worldwide offering mental health help and support to people in crisis.
Mental Health First Aid
Identifying warning signs of common mental health crisis, and how to guide a person towards safety and appropriate help. Read more ...
Sponsorship
If you are a business, organisation or a philanthropic individual passionate about promoting positive mental health through words and poetry, then consider sponsoring Poetry for Mental Health.
Donate
Please donate to Poetry for Mental Health, every little helps, and EVERYTHING goes back into running the website and publishing poetry.
STAY CONNECTED
Be kept updated with our news and calls for submissions, or CLICK HERE to send us a message.
QUICK LINKS
HOME - Personal Journeys - Interviews - Magazine - Books - Featured Poetry - Featured Poets - Contribute - Course - Mental Health Support - Mental Health First Aid - Sponsorship - Donate - Contact - Self Publishing Guide - Adverts
CONTACT
DONATE
Poetry for Mental Health receives no funding or grants, so please donate; every little helps, and EVERYTHING goes back into running the website and publishing poetry.
