Poem Stellium

mental health matters: awareness, ADVOCACY, and ARTISTRY.


introduction: Why Mental Health Matters to Us

At the heart of our publication lies a deep belief in the power of self-expression to heal, connect, and empower. Mental health isn’t a side topic here — it’s the foundation of everything we write, create, and champion.

This platform was born from personal truth. As the founder, director, and CEO, I’ve faced my own struggles with mental health and experienced trauma at various stages of my life. These experiences weren’t just difficult — they were eye-opening. They revealed how deeply under-resourced and misunderstood mental health still is, especially in the UK. From the lack of emotional education in schools, to the gaps in community support, and the stigma that still surrounds mental illness, I learnt the hard way just how vital care, understanding, and safe expression really are.

That’s why mental health is a core pillar of this platform. It’s why our work leans so heavily into the intersection of creativity and emotional expression — because sometimes words on a page, a poem, a story, or a piece of visual art can reach places that statistics and diagnoses can’t.

Here, we advocate through art. We speak through stories. We create space not just to cope, but to explore and process. We draw on UK-based knowledge, resources, and lived experiences, while recognising that the conversation around mental health is universal. Whether it’s a moment of honesty in a blog post, a reflective essay, or a piece of creative writing drawn from lived experience — everything we do is part of a wider effort to humanise, de-stigmatise, and educate.

what is mental health?

Mental health is often misunderstood, but at its core, it refers to our emotional, psychological, and social wellbeing. It influences how we think, feel, and behave — shaping the way we relate to others, handle stress, and make choices. Mental health affects every part of our lives: how we care for ourselves, how we connect with others, how we show up for work, family, and relationships.

It’s not just about having — or not having — a diagnosis. Mental health exists on a spectrum, and every single person has it. Just as we all have physical health, we all have mental health — and it fluctuates. Some days we cope better than others. Sometimes, we might feel overwhelmed, disconnected, or mentally exhausted, even if we don’t have a formal diagnosis. Other times, people live with ongoing mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia, whether or not they’ve been clinically diagnosed.

In fact, many people never receive a diagnosis at all — not because they don’t experience distress, but because they may not recognise the signs, feel able to seek help, or trust that support systems will meet their needs. For some, it’s due to cultural stigma, personal shame, or simply not knowing where to turn.

Mental health impacts everything — from our eating and sleeping patterns, to how we work, how we process emotions, how we express ourselves, and how we maintain relationships. Poor mental health can lead to self-sabotaging behaviours, emotional shutdown, strained communication, or feelings of isolation. It can change how we see ourselves and the world around us.

Mental wellbeing is more than the absence of illness — it’s about feeling able to function, to feel, to express, to connect. And everyone deserves that.

Why Mental Health Matters (Locally & Globally)

Mental health isn’t just personal — it’s social, cultural, and political. It affects how we function as individuals, but also how we build communities, sustain families, and shape the world around us.

In the UK, mental health issues are increasingly common, yet still under-addressed. According to the NHS, 1 in 4 people in England will experience a mental health problem each year, and 1 in 6 report experiencing a common mental health issue (such as anxiety or depression) in any given week. In London, where pressure, isolation, and fast-paced living collide, mental health challenges are often compounded — particularly for marginalised communities, young people, and those navigating trauma or identity struggles.

Globally, the story is just as urgent. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that depression is now the leading cause of disability worldwide. Suicide remains one of the top causes of death among 15–29-year-olds. Access to mental health care varies dramatically from country to country, and stigma remains a universal barrier — preventing millions from getting the help they need.

Mental health matters because it shapes how we live — how we speak, relate, work, create, and survive. It determines how we deal with conflict, cope with loss, show love, and find meaning in everyday life.

Yet despite how deeply it affects us, mental health is still widely misunderstood, underfunded, and often silenced — especially in environments where vulnerability is seen as weakness. That silence has real consequences. It leads to delayed care, broken relationships, burnout, addiction, and in many cases, avoidable loss of life.

That’s why it’s not enough to just “raise awareness.” We need safe spaces, honest conversations, trauma-informed practices, and education that reaches people where they are. We need creative platforms, like this one, where lived experience is given voice, and where mental health is treated not as a taboo — but as a shared human experience.

What We Do

This publication isn’t just a platform — it’s a space for healing, for honesty, and for connection. We use creativity as a tool for mental health awareness, expression, and care. Everything we share — from poetry and essays to interviews and visual art — is rooted in the belief that storytelling can shift minds, open hearts, and create change.

Here’s how we advocate for mental health through our work:

  • Creative Writing & Expression: We publish work that speaks directly from the heart — personal narratives, reflective pieces, poetry, and fiction that explore themes of trauma, healing, identity, and resilience.
  • Lived Experience at the Centre: Many of our features are created by or in collaboration with people who have lived experience with mental health struggles. This includes contributors who write from their own journeys of depression, anxiety, grief, self-discovery, and recovery.
  • Community-Focused Features: We spotlight voices from marginalised communities, recognising how factors like race, class, gender identity, and cultural background shape mental health experiences — especially within the UK.
  • Psychological & Educational Themes: While we are not a clinical or medical space, we incorporate research, psychological language, and UK-based data to bring clarity to mental health topics. We aim to educate with care and accessibility.
  • Art as Advocacy: Visual storytelling is part of our DNA. We use illustration, design, and digital art to communicate feelings that sometimes exist beyond words — because mental health isn’t always something you can explain directly.
  • Safe, Non-Judgemental Space: We believe in honest expression without shame. Our content avoids glamorisation or sensationalism — instead, it centres emotional truth, with respect for boundaries, nuance, and complexity.

This is more than content — it’s connection. We don’t claim to have all the answers, but we do believe in showing up, speaking up, and holding space. Always.

Our Stance

We don’t take mental health lightly — and we don’t take your trust for granted. This platform was built from lived experience, and with that comes a deep responsibility. We are not medical professionals. We are not therapists. We are writers, artists, creators, and advocates — holding space for stories that are too often left out of the conversation.

We approach mental health with:

  • Honesty: No sugar-coating, no over-polishing. We speak from truth — even when it’s messy, even when it hurts.
  • Trauma-Informed Awareness: We understand that many of our readers have experienced trauma. We avoid triggering language or sensationalised narratives, and we aim to create work that honours vulnerability while respecting boundaries.
  • Inclusivity & Intersectionality: Mental health is shaped by identity, culture, and access. We are committed to amplifying voices that are often silenced — especially Black, brown, queer, working-class, and neurodivergent perspectives.
  • Ethical Storytelling: Every story we share — whether it’s our own or someone else’s — is treated with care, consent, and context. We don’t publish pain for clicks. We publish it for healing, understanding, and solidarity.
  • Creative Freedom Without Shame: There’s no “right” way to express emotion. Whether it’s through poetry, essays, fragmented thoughts, or visual art — we believe all forms of expression are valid, and all emotions deserve space.

This is a space for depth, not performance. For connection, not judgement. We will always advocate for compassion over stigma, truth over silence, and art over apathy.

The My Mind Project

A year-round poetry initiative exploring the inner world.

The My Mind Project is Poem Stellium’s open invitation for people to submit original poetry that speaks to their relationship with mental health. Whether it’s about living through anxiety, navigating healing, or sitting with silence — this is a space for raw, honest, and personal poetic expression.

This project runs all year, and we welcome a wide range of voices and styles. You don’t need to be a “professional poet” — you just need something real to say.

Themes we often see:

  • The mind as a place of beauty or chaos
  • Healing, breaking, burning out, starting over
  • Emotions in the body: grief, fear, joy, numbness
  • Self-reflection, self-loss, self-rediscovery

Submit your work when you’re ready. One piece or many. All poems must be original and previously unpublished.

Submit your poetry to the My Mind Project ? my mind project

Share Your Story (Personal, Direct Storytelling)

This comes next. You already have the full write-up I gave you — that can be placed here.

Label this clearly as something different from the My Mind Project. This is where you say, in effect: This space is for your truth — written plainly or poetically — about what you’ve lived through. Not everyone is an artist. Some people just need a place to say what happened. This is it.

Let Your Voice Be Heard: Share Your Story

Where to Get Help

We know that reading about mental health can stir up a lot — and if you’re struggling right now, please know you’re not alone. While we’re a creative platform, not a clinical one, we believe in the importance of real-world support and guidance.

We’ve put together a dedicated RESOURCES page with mental health organisations, helplines, and community support — both within the UK and internationally. Whether you need someone to talk to, a place to start, or just reassurance that support exists, you can find that here:

Visit our Mental Health Resources page

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to a trusted professional, friend, or helpline if you’re in crisis. Getting support is not a weakness — it’s a radical act of care.