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.
Poetry for Mental Health
Supporting people with mental health challenges by motivating and inspiring them to write poetry.
PLEASE help support Poetry for Mental Health as it continues promoting, publishing and showcasing poetry for mental health into 2026. Thank you so much ... together we can keep supporting people around the world through words and poetry!
"Poetry for Mental Health has supported thousands of people around the world through words and poetry!"
"Formed at the outbreak of COVID by helping people cope mentally by inspiring them to write poetry; five years, seven books, hundreds of poets, and thousands of pieces of poetry later, we are still inspiring people to write poetry for positive mental health! With around 1400 visitors now each and every month, Poetry for Mental Health is now probably the largest and most visited website for poetry and mental health on the net!"
"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!"
ROBIN BARRATT
Founder POETRY FOR MENTAL HEALTH
Today's Featured Poetry
03rd July, 2025
JUST THINKING BACK
By Mark Katrinak
Just thinking back can give the nightmare charge
as chill would charge the stallion’s chilling stare,
wild horses’ gallop after rising heat.
Terror’s uninsulated wires spark,
that any therapy dare not come near,
let alone broach the torment born of dream,
for fear another fire start, leave soot
sootier than chimneys, Satanic sash.
That going back in time can detonate
the calm you cultivated for so long,
ignite the heavy draperies you drew
to keep the past from ever peering in.
Not thinking back will set things off as well;
you need to pull the plug on this machine
ABOUT MARK: Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Mark is now a resident of Golden Valley, AZ. He has had poems published in Bayou, Southwestern American Literature, Schuylkill Valley Journal, Pinyon, The Opiate Magazine and other literary publications. He enjoys birds, felines, and spending time with his wife and son.
More Featured Poetry ...
On the themes of mental health, from hundreds of poets around the world.
"Why is poetry so very good for people with mental health challenges? Because it helps them see the world in their own way, and in a way that makes sense to them ..."
Robin Barratt
Books
Click on the covers for further details of all our titles. 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. Please buy a copy -
ALL
profits from the sales of our titles go towards promoting and publishing poetry for positive mental health.
NOTE: All our books are now available as PDF e-Books! Just £3.99 (GBP) / $5.99 (USD). Click on the button below, and click through to the book you would like as a pdf.
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.
NEW - Articles
Articles about poetry and positive mental health. MORE ONLINE SHORTLY.
Featured Poets
Featuring over 65 poets around the world, with up to six pieces of their work, and a little about the author and the stories behind their work.
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. Read more ...
"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
Newletter
Be kept updated with our news and calls for submissions.
Advertise here ...
You will soon be able to advertise your mental health related products, services and events etc here. Weekly, monthly, or for a full year. Contact us for further details: Email: Robin@PoetryForMentalHealth.org
“No matter how bad something may seem at that moment in time when you feel all is lost, it can get better if you can only give it more time."
Lynda Tavakoli
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.