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!!. 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
This Weekend's Featured Poetry
02nd August, 2025
WHY I LIT A CANDLE EVEN WHEN GOD WASN’T LISTENING
By Karen I. Sorto
Why pray to a saint?
Isn’t God supposed to be enough?
That’s what I was taught to believe.
But my God won’t answer me
He’s he shut me out—
Left me standing in the cold.
But why?
It’s because I believed them
When they said medication is the only “cure” for my disease.
Was it because it was wrong to put all my fe into what the doctors said—antipsychotic, for the rest of your life?
I remember what I learned in Catholic school: When you’re is in the midst of struggle, it’s never wrong to ask for prayers
But my voice alone
Doesn’t feel worthy enough
To reach heaven’s golden gates
I don’t think my cries
will reach God’s ears
So I ask other to help intercede for me—
Departed or living
At this point it doesn’t matter
I walk towards the alter and bow my head. Palms pressed together
I whisper aloud— all the prayers which have marked my heart, the ones packed with too many petitions
I speak them into holy ground
Ask a saint for intercession
Saint of healing, Dear Raphael hear me when I cry
Ya no puedo. Ya no más
Dios se fue
And I don’t what to do
I just need
A little bit of healing
Ni sé if this will even work
It goes against what I believe—
But what else can I do?
Catholic I was, once upon a time.
Even if only for short season.
As I’m praying
I can’t help but notice how the sanctuary lights up all the candles one by one
Is this a sign?
Still I can’t help
but come back to You, my God —
God, please. Listen
Hear what I have to say
don’t leave me
What do I need?
How does one mend
a lost connection with You?
I’m trying my best.
God I’m giving You my all
I’m learning how to trust
And wait, I will—
For the Bible clearly said it in Isaiah-chapter 30: verse 18
(Isaiah 30:18)
Bless are all who wait for Him
So really—
is there any more left for me to say
when all I can do
is wait?
ABOUT THE POEM: "This piece explores the intersection of faith, mental illness, and healing. As a poet and emerging social worker, I write to honor the complexity of mental health within spiritual and cultural contexts. This poem reflects my personal journey navigating bipolar disorder, religious silence, and the hope that still lives in ritual."
ABOUT KAREN:
Karen is a Salvadoran American poet and aspiring social worker based in North Carolina. Her work explores the intersections of faith, mental illness, cultural identity, and healing. She is currently preparing her debut poetry manuscript 'Love Songs for the Unstable: A Prayerbook.'
03rd August, 2025
I BURN FOR YOU
By Madisen
“My tender heart’s a steamy fire,
Rare as ocean-blue sapphire.
I try to grasp your hand of mist,
Yet in the haze it starts to drift.
Your portrait defies mortality,
Hanging forever in my mind’s gallery.
Each wrinkle a story left untold,
With a heart crafted in silver and gold.
The cigarette kissed your lips before I could;
Now smoke tastes like it never should.
Tempting me like your breath alone,
Burning soft like your cologne.
Your shadow tiptoes in the twilight;
Illusions dance, but the truth ignites.
Are you really flesh and bone,
Or just a ghost I long to hold?
I followed the spotlight of your star;
I searched for you wide and far.
Your spirit blew like ash away,
Leaving only a faint trace of gray.
I wonder, do I haunt your head?
But it’s your name I breathe instead.
Are you the dream that left me burned,
Or just the smoke I crave to return?”
ABOUT THE POEM: "I have been writing more uplifting poetry to challenge the darker thoughts I have been having. It has been such a challenge but I wanted to share ,so others can see there is always a little glimmer of light even if it’s very tiny …"
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.
"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
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.
Featured Poets
Featuring almost 70 poets around the world, with up to six pieces of their work, and a little about the author and the stories behind their work.
Articles
Articles about poetry and positive mental health.
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 ...
Mental Health Awareness
Safer Minds believes everyone, everywhere should have some awareness of basic mental health. NOW online, free mental health awareness course for anyone, anywhere wanting to develop their knowledge and understanding of mental health.
Newletter
Be kept updated with our news and calls for submissions.
“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.