This post is written by and posted on behalf of one of my current course participants, Jack
Dear Fellow Writers
This is Mental Health Awareness week.
Some of us have discussed the often strong link between mental health, writing, and other art forms. I have suffered from episodes of clinical depression since I was a teenager. This was undoubtedly the reason I began writing, as I found it therapeutic. I compiled a collection of poetry (A Madman Shaking a Dead Geranium writing as Jack Donovan) from attending Maria Stephenson’s excellent course. This depicts my journey through depression and has a positive outcome.
Can I take this opportunity to encourage anyone suffering from depression, or other mental health issues, to seek help. You are not alone, there is help out there, and mental health is nothing to be ashamed of. If any of you, or your loved ones, are suffering do please seek help. I cannot over emphasise the importance of this. You can recover, and it may take time. But please take that first step and speak to someone.
Thank you.
In the words of my hero, Spike Milligan,
Love, light and peace.
Jack Wickes