‘Mirror’, a poem by Sylvia Plath, depicts a woman’s struggle with aging. Plath suffered from mental health problems for most of her adult life; she…
“Invictus” is a short Victorian poem written by William Ernest Henley and published in 1888. He wrote this piece during a lengthy hospital stay for…
In this TedTalk from August, 2013, Rachel McKibbens explains how sharing written words aloud in a safe and encouraging environment is a therapeutic means to…
“Ana’s Song (Open Fire)” by Silver Chair describes the personal struggle of the lead singer Daniel Johns’ experience with Anorexia Nervosa. The lyrics depict the…
Patrick Howse, a former BBC bureau chief who completed a seven-year tour of duty in and around Baghdad, has written extensively about his experience in…
“Still I Rise”, by Maya Angelou, is a poem about the adversity and racism faced by Angelou and many other African-American individuals throughout history. In…
In their song, ‘High Hopes’, the alternative-rock band Kodaline tries to convey a sense of optimism to the listener through lyrics like, “But I’ve got…
Patrick Howse, an ex-BBC producer, wrote the poem ‘The District Line’ as a way to come to terms with his diagnosis of Post Traumatic Stress…
In 1999, artist Mathew Good decided to write a song about his friend who was admitted to a psychiatric institution. The lyrics attempt to describe…
“The Grand Optimist” is written and performed by Dallas Green, of City and Colour. The lyrics convey a sense of losing hope—feelings often described by…
