Written by Alison Pick, “Depression” is a short poem which succinctly encapsulates the hopelessness which comes with depression, as well as the feelings of helplessness…
The poem ‘I Married My Mother’ from the book A Good Cry by Nikki Giovanni expresses how Giovanni learned to cry in her 70s. Having…
Heidi Hanson, an artist and writer in Asheville North Carolina, shares her journey of recovery from PTSD through her poetry, creative writing, and artwork. Heidi…
At times, it is easy to assume that those admitted to the psychiatric ward of hospitals are affected only by staff-patient relationships. Brian E. Pardee’s…
The poem “Mental Illness: A Poem From Its Point of View” is written by Janene Jordan who is an avid writer for The Mighty. This…
Canadian spoken word artist Shane Koyczan’s powerful poem “To This Day” speaks to the profound and lasting impact of bullying. The accompanying video, featuring crowd-sourced…
In Greek poet C.P. Cavafy’s poem, he conveys the meaning of life, or as he calls it, Ithaka. He notes that as we all try…
Renowned in the spoken word poetry scene, Rudy Francisco’s poem, “The Heart and the Fist,” is a narrative on toxic masculinity and how it’s effects…
The poem “I got a letter for the devil” by SKAT A is open to interpretation, but could be viewed as expressing the all-consuming nature of mental…
Chrystos is a Menominee self-educated writer and two-spirited activist. Chrystos’ work examines themes of feminism, sexual orientation, social justice, and Native rights. In her poem…
Based in Chicago, Illinois, Bianca Phipps is an actor, teaching artist, and spoken word poet. Her poem, “Almosts,” explores the loss and grief she experienced after the…
Neil Hilborn is an American slam poet who writes and performs poetry. Hilborn was diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) as a child, and bipolar disorder while he was in college, and has always used…
“Parallel Universes” is a poignant poem written by a man with schizophrenia. Dan Hoeweler had this poem and two other equally beautiful pieces published in…
In his spoken word poem, Kevin Kantor describes seeing his rapist being suggested under the ‘people you may know’ section on Facebook. Comparing the shock…
“Autumn” is a beautiful poem by London writer Christina Rosetti (1830-1894) who is known for bringing a lively and magical quality to her works. With…
American poet Robert Frost’s famous poem “Nothing Gold Can Stay” uses nature imagery to reveal that every good time or “gold” moment is fleeting and…
Christa Marie’s poem “Broken Stairs” tells the story of a young girl’s fight with depression. The poem speaks of “monsters in her mind” which can be interpreted as representing her mental illness, her thoughts, and the lies…
“Please Hear What I’m Not Saying” is a poem by American poet Charles C. Finn that has been used to help raise awareness for mental health issues. Finn’s poem…
“Uninvited Guest” is a short poem by Vicky from Family Friend Poems that captures the depths of depression and the helplessness one may feel when…
Rupi Kaur is a Canadian poet, feminist, activist, and spoken word poet. She is best known for her acclaimed debut book “Milk and Honey.” Each chapter in…
