Words for mental health

Throughout this project we've received support from a number of fantastic artists.

Patrick Jones, Royal College Psychiatrists Wales artist in residence, Eric Ngalle Charles, Mark Smith, Parvin Ziaei, Christina Thatcher, Mab Jones, Mair Elliott, Rufus Mufusa and Clare Potter.

We've also benefitted from support of Literature Wales, the national company for the development of literature.

We'll shortly be announcing an exciting programme and number of events throughout 2020.

I believe the creative arts, with particular emphasis on writing, can take us to a place of healing away from our pain. We forget where we have been and where we are going and simply be. As artists and/or practitioners we need to revisit our core beliefs of why we embarked upon our own creative journey. I often go back to why I started writing. Out of loneliness, heartbreak, despair, sadness and rage I found words or they found me. I also think back to those incendiary moments and how I felt. That is the key. Feeling.

Patrick Jones, Artist in Residence, Royal College of Psychiatrists Wales

This work is both exciting and invaluable, and we are keen to reach out to more writers and poets. No-one is immune to experiencing mental ill health, how we manage our mental health is so important and the arts have a part to play in promoting positive mental well-being.

Professor Keith Lloyd, former Chair, Royal College of Psychiatrists Wales

As an organisation, we are passionate believers that engagement in the arts – and literature in particular – can have a positive effect on people’s mental and physical wellbeing and can improve our lives. To that end, we’re delighted to support this event which will help to amplify the need to widen the conversations around mental health.

Lleucu Siencyn, Chief Executive of Literature Wales