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 abuse, which some people might find upsetting.
Poetry for Mental Health
Supporting people around the world through words and poetry.
It is undeniable that putting thoughts, feelings and emotions into words, on paper, can be both therapeutic and an incredibly effective method of self-help and healing
Poetry for Mental Health has supported thousands of people through words and poetry! No matter what your age, background and experience, culture, nationality, 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.
About ...
"I formed
Poetry for Mental Health at the outbreak of COVID, as a way of helping people cope mentally through lockdown and the pandemic by inspiring them to write poetry. Six years, eight books, and many thousands of pieces of poetry later,
Poetry for Mental Health
is still inspiring people to write poetry for positive mental health! And with almost 1500 visitors a the month, it
is now probably the largest and most visited website of its kind on the net!"
ROBIN BARRATT - Founder POETRY FOR MENTAL HEALTH
OUT NOW!
PTSD - Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
A collection of personal stories and poetry about life and living with PTSD.
Available from Amazon websites worldwide as a larger format 6 x 9 inch (15.24 x 22.86 cm) paperback and Kindle, and directly from us as paperback and pdf e-book.
ISBN: 9798255872770
277 pages
109 contributors
Over 29 countries represented.
NEW - This Week's Featured Poetry (x2)
Week commencing Monday 18th May, 2026.
TWO WORLDS IN ONE
By Martha McDaniel
Mental Health Awareness is in May
Many are in disarray
Medical versus the Street Interplay
Two worlds in One
Mental Health Awareness isn’t a game.
Anxiety and trauma were locked and loaded, with shaky aim
Social Anxiety and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, doctor’s name.
“Paranoid or being stuck up” is the street frame
Two worlds in One
Mental Health Awareness just a brief
Moods and Emotions crash the night, like a window being broken by a thief.
Therapists use Major Depression or Bipolar type one or two disorders, offering some relief
The street value of flip-flop and in funk has no connection to the grief
Two Worlds in one.
Mental Health Awareness, stopping the stigma
Neurodevelopmental and Psychotic Disorders that were dogma
Tests have proven that the brains of people with schizophrenia and ADHD are an enigma
Norms would say, " Oh, they're just slow or tripping out. While past is what they dig
Two worlds in one.
Mental Health Awareness, you're not alone
Personality and Dissociative Disorders sat upon the throne
Borderline Personality and Antisocial Personality Disorder have their own zone
Citizens of the streets make remarks without understanding the unknown
Two worlds in one
Mental Health Awareness, your story is not over
Eating and Body Image Disorders can make people cover up
Anorexia & Bulimia, and binge eating are just a few of the notes of discovering
street slang: underweight due to drugs, the weight is unfit. Causing a longer recovery.
Two World in one
Mental Health doesn't define you, no matter the decline
Learning and growing will refine
Call 988 (111 - UK) to confine
Street will stand their line
Two worlds in one, and that is just divine.
ABOUT THE POEM: This piece explores themes of mental health and the personal journey of navigating different realities.
ABOUT MARTHA:
Martha is the 2nd Vice President of the Poetry Society of Indiana. As someone who has walked her own path through the challenges of PTSD, anxiety, and Borderline Personality Disorder, she is dedicated to stopping the stigma and believe that these conversations need to be pushed into the public awareness much more, especially with May being Mental Health Awareness Month.
OVERCOME
By Aaron Maheu
I took a bunch of pills one day,
but guess my story is not done.
I put a knife to my wrist one day,
but guess my story is not done.
I made a nouse one day,
but my story is not done.
I went out into a storm one day,
but my story is not done.
I drove by a bridge one day,
but my story is not done.
These are the ways I wanted to end my pain,
but my story is not done.
I tried to ask for help one day,
but my story is not done.
I hide the pain today,
but my story is not done.
I tell the ones I love today,
but my story is not is not done.
I start to let more people in today,
but my story is not done.
I lost my love one day,
my story is not done.
I finally show the unseen scars today,
but my story is not done.
I make new friends today,
my story is not done.
I start not feel hopeless today,
the story is not done.
I fall today,
but the story is not done.
I hide the guilt and shame today and the story is not done.
I write these words today and the story is not done.
I turns into you, and You will overcome.
ABOUT AARON:
Aaron is an Army veteran, and has quietly battled with his mental health for 20 years. During that time he has considered hurting himself, but never did until things got too much in 2023. He used to write poems and stories before joining the Army, but stopped when he joined up. He has never submitted any of his writings before.
Lots more Featured Poetry here:
Our Books
ONLINE SHORTLY - A list of book retailers that stock paperback copies of our
Poetry for Mental Health titles.
Personal Journeys
In their own words, writers and poets write about their own personal journey with mental health.
Interviews
Ten amazing writers and poets talking about their own personal journey with mental health.
Featured Poets
Featuring poets from around the world, with up to six pieces of their work, and a little about the author and the stories behind their work.
And lots more ...
Featured Books
Promoting poetry books and publications.
And lots more ...
Other ...
Directory of Support Services
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.
Poetry for Mental Health is open for sponsorship from mental health related businesses, products and services.
Sponsorship includes the website, our publications, & our monthly newsletters.
Boost your brand's visibility by reaching thousands of engaged viewers around the world.
Contact us
for further details.
Newsletter - what's new at Poetry for Mental Health ...
Poetry for Mental Health's newsletter, April 2026.
Click the button below to download a pdf version.
Send us your name and email address and we'll keep you updated with what's new at
Poetry for Mental Health, plus calls for submissions for our titles and website. IMPORTANT: we'll never pass your details onto anyone else ... ever!
Publishing Services
We publish books for other people too!!!
Would you like to see your poetry collection published as a paperback and Kindle, and available for other people to read around the world? Prices start from just £150.00 for a chapbook / short collection. Click on the link for more info. Plus Promoting Your Book- information and advice for promoting and marketing your book. We have published over 100 books for other people. Just a few examples below:
We have published over 100 books for other people. Just a few examples below:
NOTE ON CONTRIBUTIONS: We publish mental health poetry from around the world, and for a number contributors to this website, English is not their first language. Unlike some other platforms, we don't heavily edit a poet's own work (if we did, it would then not be their own work!), so please focus on a poet's messages and meanings, and not necessarily on any grammatical mistakes or translated imperfections that may arise within their contribution.