Unique book to support people’s mental health is crowdfunding now

News Desk
Authored by News Desk
Posted Saturday, October 6, 2018 - 4:28pm

A new book aiming to help people who struggle with their mental health is now being crowdfunded. Riding the Storms is a compilation of stories, poems, photography and artwork created by people who are reflecting on, and even embracing, the pain of their mental suffering.

This book has been made possible through the support of Recovery Devon, but has been developed and driven by writers and artists passionate about its importance.

Recovery Devon, a community interest company supported by Devon Partnership NHS Trust, aims to give a greater say in their own recovery to people who face mental health challenges.

They have been able to support collecting and editing the materials but their funding is limited: now they are asking for help to make this wonderful resource a reality.

Some years ago Recovery Devon created Beyond the Storms, a collection of stories and creative works from people about overcoming mental health challenges. It has proved a sought after and precious resource, given FREE to people and mental health organisations.

However many people felt that learning about how people won their battles made them feel like they too should be ‘winning’.  Reading about people’s successful recovery made them feel that they themselves had failed. Yet there are circumstances and conditions you do not ’get through’ but must learn to live with as part of life.

So Riding the Storms has a different focus. It is not about overcoming mental illness but learning to live well with it, responding to pain and suffering with acceptance and compassion. It will help people who struggle with their mental health by showing that they are not alone. It is rare, perhaps unique, in being about the journey, not about a ‘win’.

Health services may use Riding the Storms as a resource to aid their own understanding, to offer to their service users and to use as a focus during therapeutic and group sessions. For friends and supporters, Riding the Storms offers insights and different ways of understanding the often bewildering distress of mental health difficulties.

James, MD of Recovery Devon, said: “We are hoping that through publishing these stories, we can give them a new life and a new sense of meaning, that can reach and help many people across the world.”

You can support the creation of this remarkable book by donating to their Crowdfunder here: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/ridingthestorms

Rewards such as original prints or dedications in the book are on offer.

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