All Stories…

The War Came Home With Him

By Catherine Madison

Creative Writing

“It’s hard to imagine in this time of endless psychological examination that greater consideration was not given in the past to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other conditions affecting returning… View

All At Sea

By Eamonn Flynn

Audio/visual

Singing and writing songs helps me to connect, acknowledge even the worst of my fears and feelings, to feel less alone and to build a community of hope in spite… View

My son was the Messiah – Chapter 8.

By Jane Read

Creative Writing

Two friends stay with Dan at the flat while Jane and  Graham drive to London, hoping to bring him home To access previous chapters, visit Jane Read’s Author Page. View

Model Home: Excavating My Mother’s Madness.

By Leslie Lindsay

Creative Writing

JUNIOR ARCHITECT: A Blueprint of My Mother’s 1989 Psychosis This is an excerpt from my unpublished memoir, Model Home: Excavating My Mother’s Madness. My mother, Lynne, was diagnosed with… View

The Art of Misdiagnosis

By Gayle Brandeis

Creative Writing

Synopsis: Gayle Brandeis’s mother disappeared just after Gayle gave birth to her youngest child. Several days later, her body was found: she had hanged herself in the utility closet of… View

My Son was the Messiah – Chapter 7

By Jane Read

Creative Writing

The family are watching Dan in the last episode of Downton Abbey when they receive an alarming phone call. Graham and Jane dash to London to rescue their son. To… View

My Son was the Messiah – Chapter 6

By Jane Read

Creative Writing

Dan receives an important text message and embarks on a London walkabout. To access previous chapters, visit Jane Read’s Author Page. View

Outside, the Sky is Blue

By Christina Patterson

Creative Writing

This is an extract from my family memoir, Outside, the Sky is Blue. My sister, Caroline, was diagnosed with schizophrenia in her late teens. My brother, Tom, was an… View

‘This feels more like spin-the-bottle than science’: my mission to find a proper diagnosis – and treatment – for my son’s psychosis.

By Tanya Frank

Creative Writing

I wrote this piece about my son living with psychosis for the Lifestyle column of the Guardian Weekend Magazine. I received message after message from people telling me their… View

My Son was the Messiah – Chapter 5

By Jane Read

Creative Writing

Dan experiences an epic transformation whilst at his friend’s birthday weekend. To access previous chapters, visit Jane Read’s Author Page. View

My Son was the Messiah – Chapter 4

By Jane Read

Creative Writing

A new chapter of this true account will be added every week. To access previous chapters, click on the Author Page. Chapter 4, it is midnight when Jane answers… View

Psychosis Diaries #2

By Raur Hawk

Psychosis Diaries is a work of autofiction. It follows Toby Crow, 16, witnessing his brother Jude’s descent into psychosis. To read previous extracts, visit Raur Hawk’s author page. View

My Son was the Messiah – Chapter 3

By Jane Read

Creative Writing

This true story will be serialised weekly. To access previous chapters, visit Jane Read’s author page. View

Black ‘n’ Blue

By Mabel J. Williams

Audio/visual

An original poem by Mabel J. Williams View

My Son was the Messiah – Chapter 2

By Jane Read

Creative Writing

This true story will be serialised weekly. To access previous chapters, visit my author page. View

Unicorns & Demons. Chapter 2: The Bank. St. John

By Jacqueline Townsend

Creative Writing

The second chapter of Unicorns & Demons. To read previous chapters, visit Jacqueline Townsend’s author page. View

Psychosis Diaries #1

By Raur Hawk

Creative Writing

Psychosis Diaries is a work of autofiction. It follows Toby Crow, 16, witnessing his brother Jude’s descent into psychosis. Written in diary form, the book documents the devastating impact his… View

Coffee, No Sympathy

By Jenny Sanders

Creative Writing

This piece recounts an earlier point in my journey through the mental health system with my daughter. It was my first experience of a so-called carer support group. View

Filing Papers. Picking Apples

By Jenny Sanders

Creative Writing

In my writing, I am examining the gap between system promises and family reality, the hidden costs of prolonged crisis response on family wellbeing, and the overlooked trauma experienced by… View

Unicorns & Demons. Chapter One: The Bank

By Jacqueline Townsend

Creative Writing

When I received a distressed call from my son two days before he died, I was in denial. I thought that I could talk sense into him; I did not… View