Residents of Plymouth who experience depression and anxiety are invited to participate in free poetry workshops aimed at improving mental health. These sessions, designed for complete beginners, begin on April 23 and will be held weekly for ten weeks until June 25.
Organized by Plymouth University, in collaboration with The Wolseley Trust Healthy Futures, the workshops will take place at the Sherwell United Church Hall. Each session runs from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM and will be led by local poet Melisande Fitzsimons.
Participants can expect to explore how writing poetry can be a beneficial outlet for emotions and a tool for personal expression. The sessions provide a supportive environment where individuals can learn to articulate their feelings and thoughts through poetry, which has been shown to help improve mental well-being.
The workshops are free for individuals in Plymouth and surrounding areas, and refreshments such as tea, coffee, and biscuits will be provided. To reserve a spot or to gather more information, interested individuals are encouraged to contact Dr. Russell Evans via email at russell.evans@plymouth.ac.uk.
This initiative reflects a growing recognition of the arts as a valuable resource in mental health support and therapy, offering participants a unique and creative way to cope with their challenges.
