Featuring poetry by fifteen contributors, mostly young adults linked in some way with Durham University, this anthology aims to illuminate some of the diverse aspects of mental health experience, thereby reducing the stigma that still surrounds mental health problems in spite of their prevalence (affecting one in four people in the UK each year) and a society-wide movement towards greater awareness. Poems of Hope depicts a journey from the darker, often-veiled sides of mental illness into a space of celebrating life, hope and healing. We are using our project to raise money for Mind UK.

Created by Jess Clark and Stephanie Hanson, two poets who met studying English at Durham University, the book aspires to both provide solace to readers who may have been through similar experiences and to educate the wider public. Our first print edition of Poems of Hope raised £550 for Mind UK, which we were delighted to donate to the Mind Islington office in January 2020. We will continue to donate proceeds to Mind from each copy sold, in support of their valuable services within the local community. Thank you for reading and wishing you enjoy this culmination of creative efforts!