#khush dil

[khushidil]

Supporting Young People and mental health

If you haven't visited the Time to Change website before, it's worth a look. Lots of good advice and resources including information specifically for younger people. 1 in 10 young people experience mental health problems. Let's help ourselves and each other.

[khushidil]

The Walls Hidden Within Me

Kouser wrote this very open and honest poem when she suffered a recent bereavement. Not everyone deals with bereavement in the same way, but her poem touches on things many of us feel or have felt: These walls within me are hidden from the world but clear for me to see Hidden because no one seems to understand the pain I feel of losing my best friend to someone I barely knew the pain I cannot express to anyone because they think l'm crazy,  they say he was just a friend but I know he was more than a friend to me, he made me laugh smile and made me feel content in every way. He will always be hidden in between my hidden walls until I am laid to rest in peace. He will never know of my hidden walls  Because his happiness means so much more to me then he will ever know he will never be like no other and no other will be like him these walls shall remain hidden within me hidden from the world amd clear for me to see....  only God will ever know about the walls hidden within me because he is the only one who knows about the pain I feel, as he is the healer to all the pain I feel.... Kouser Iqbal

[khushidil]

Feel the Love

It's fair to say we were all on cloud nine after our celebration the other week, which featured a performance by Shaheen Khan. The women who have taken part in this project have shared so much, and also supported each other. At the event they spoke passionately in front of an audience of more than 100 people - it takes strength to share personal stories and experiences in this way, we're all very proud. Here are some comments highlighting what the audience really enjoyed:

"The honesty in the participants poetry"

"The singing and the poetry was just awesome"

 "The emotion that people expressed about their experience of life"

 "Outcome of the 12 week workshop with the ladies poetry"

 "The sharing of their personal experiences and expression through art"

"Involvement of women from disadvantaged group with unequal access to mental health services"

"It was really touching listening to these women's stories and seeing them look confident and somewhat empowered"

"Made me aware of mental health and different stigma which people face in everyday life"

"Open platform, encouraging people with mental health issues to come forward and showcase their ability/talent. Very proactive and supportive"

Sadly, the funding for this project has now come to an end, but some participants will continue with their creative writing as an outlet for their feelings and experiences. Keep following our blog, as we'll be posting poetry and other creative writing soon!

[khushidil]

[khushidil]

Learning, creating, sharing, listening, laughing...

Today at the Khushi project, Musarat showed us how to tie-dye. The group and the activities we do are so therapeutic, and some of us really needed the distraction and company of good friends this week. None of us are necessarily artists, but these are all gorgeous, right?!

[khushidil]

Yearning

In our workshops people have shared so much - through conversation, but also through doodles, artwork, writing and other media. Being able to share and express yourself is important to good mental health. It's also important that someone listens.

This picture and the text speaks of yearning. This woman feels she can't show anyone the pain in her heart. She feels alive when she sees her children, but awful when they are gone, and sometimes life feels like hell with no escape.