Birmingham patient wins national writing competition with poem

A patient at St Andrew's Healthcare in Birmingham has won national recognition for a deeply personal poem she wrote during one of the most challenging periods of her life.

Two-and-a-half years ago, Sharon*, from Wolverhampton, was struggling to cope with the pressures surrounding her while living with schizoaffective disorder.

Having suddenly found herself a single parent, she was trying to navigate motherhood, manage her mental health, and cope with overwhelming feelings of isolation. 

"It was all coming to a head," she recalled.

 Amid the darkness, Sharon found an outlet through writing. Rather than keeping her emotions bottled up, she began putting pen to paper, using poetry to express the fear, sadness and uncertainty she was experiencing. 

One poem in particular became a powerful reflection on her struggles. Through its verses, she explored difficult questions about the future and whether life could improve. At the time, she never imagined that her words would one day resonate with others.

It was only after she was admitted to St Andrew's Healthcare in Birmingham that she revisited her poetry. Adult Education Teacher Andrew Kane was struck by the honesty and emotional depth of her work.

He said: “I found her poems incredibly powerful. There was one particular poem that really stood out, so I encouraged her to enter it into the Quality Network for Prison Mental Health Services (QNFMHS) Artwork and Creative Writing Competition.

“Her beautiful and bittersweet poem captured not only the pain of her experiences, but also a sense of hope and resilience. It spoke to feelings that many people struggle to put into words.”

The annual competition celebrates the creativity, talent and lived experiences of patients and carers within forensic mental health services across the UK. It is organised by the QNFMHS, part of the Royal College of Psychiatrists' Centre for Quality Improvement (CCQI).

Sharon's poem, Light, clearly struck a chord with the judges, who awarded it a Chrysalis Award. The achievement earned her a certificate and a £40 prize, but the recognition meant far more than the award itself.

 “It was nice because it was something I went through,” Sharon said. “I helped people through what I had gone through. They could relate to it. I felt proud of myself.”

 For Sharon, the award was proof that her experiences, difficult as they had been, could help others feel understood and less alone. What began as a private release of emotion became a source of connection and hope for people facing similar struggles.

Andrew believes the achievement highlights the powerful role creativity can play in recovery.

He said: “Sharon’s story is a reminder that creativity can emerge from even the darkest moments. Through courage, honesty and the power of words, she transformed pain into something meaningful, creating a poem that touched others, won an award, and marked an important step on her journey towards recovery and hope.”

Sharon’s award-winning poem, Light, encourages self-compassion, healing and resilience. Through its message of hope, it reflects both the challenges she has faced and the progress she has made, inspiring others to believe that brighter days are possible.

In addition to creative writing sessions, the education team in Birmingham, provide Functional Skills in maths, literacy and Information and Communications Technology (ICT), ranging from pre-entry level all the way up to Level 2 are available.

The same resources are used at the hospital as those used in colleges and patient learners are encouraged to progress onto vocational courses in Further Education.

Many patients have successfully completed college courses which has helped aid their recovery, giving them a sense of purpose and hope for the future. 

The award-winning poem in full:

Light

~By Sharon~

Is it outer darkness or inner light?

If so, my inner turmoil shines bright.

Do you feel positivity? Full of life?

Is your world a good place to be?

Or does the darkness of your past hurt,

Blind your eyes as you try to see.

I wish for your happiness,

I wish for your health.

I wish you lots of love,

I wish you wealth.

I hope the pain stops in your life,

And I hope that you feel no more strife.

You see my friend, you are unique.

You need to believe!

God made only one of you,

It comes without critique.

She shaped you, moulded you

And gave you your self-belief.

A mind that’s able to see beyond mist,

A mind that can view true beauty

And find remnants of bliss.

Any foolish mistakes,

Are nobody’s business.

You are given a fresh start everyday,

Abandon the things that cause your heart to ache.

You have no debt to pay,

Those thoughts of self-hate,

They can just float away,

Don’t let them ruin your day.

My friend you are beautiful,

Every single day,

In every single way.

Take it step by step,

Take it day by day.

I love you,

So does your God.

She wants you to Love yourself,

And no more bleeding,

Heal your mental health.

*patient name has been changed to protect her anonymity.