How living with mental health challenges inspired new poetry collection

It offers a raw and unfiltered glimpse into some deeply heartbreaking and heartwarming journeys.

The voices of people from across the local community living with mental health challenges has inspired a compelling and unique new poetry anthology being unveiled this week.

Beyond Bridges offers a raw and unfiltered glimpse into some deeply heartbreaking and heartwarming journeys.

Featuring poems from MindWise members, volunteers and staff, it showcases their extraordinary talents in the world of poetry, bridging the often-isolated world of mental illness with the universal need for connection, understanding, and self-expression.

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They provide a unique perspective from those who feel they are always swimming against the tide, but who continue to cross that bridge, word by word, to a better future.

‘Beyond Bridges’ was inspired by the life and passing of Hayment Sharma, who attended MindWise for many years and was a great friend to all. Hayment, who sadly passed away in June 2024, referred to this group of people as his second family, and the Sharma family is proud and privileged to be associated with them.

The Ram Foundation (founder Suneil Sharma, the brother of Hayment) has partnered with MindWise as an appreciation of the support and friendship the service provided to Hayment and continues to provide to many others.

Paying tribute, Jim McLaughlin said: “I remember one of the first times I met him, we were out in a cafe, and he offered to buy my meal in case I couldn’t afford it. He was the first person outside of my family to ever offer to help me. He would’ve given you the shirt off his back, that was the sort of person he was.”

Jim added: “I stopped poetry to care for my parents until they passed. My mother had motor neuron disease and my dad had dementia. I didn’t know anything about either of these conditions until I was the one in the position to deal with it. I learned how quickly an adult can become childlike again.

“I was firstly inspired by a rap that I heard, and I started to rhyme over hip hop beats. I find poetry to be an extension of my personality and allows me to express myself. The beauty of it is that, just like any art, it is open for people to take it how they want.

“Poetry can mean something different to everyone. For me, my poetry allows me to get things off my chest, to pay homage to family or people who I have lost along the way and process my grief.”

The launch of Beyond Bridges will take place this Thursday, September 4 at 12:30pm in the Linen Hall Library, Belfast.

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