Poetry About Mental Illness Shattering Stigma Through Art

When I was diagnosed with bipolar 2 disorder, the hardest part wasn’t hearing the diagnosis itself, it was the pressure to believe I was somehow defective. I’d been taught that people with bipolar were monsters and deranged, and this myth fogged my self-perception for years. Society programs us to see mental illness as a defect, something to be hidden or “fixed.” It has taken me years of self-reflection, exploration, and research to unlearn that belief.

For me, it’s through art that I’ve been able to unapologetically reveal the truth about mental illness, and in doing so, empower others who live with it. In April 2024, I published a collection of poetry and essays that explores many facets of life, including mental illness, “Oh Mind, Where Have You Gone Today?” A major publishing company suggested I remove the section on mental illness because it might “turn off the general public.” I rejected that offer without hesitation. I refuse to contribute to the separation of those born different.

Below, I share more poems that delve into the complex reality of mental illness, paired with art that illuminates both the beauty and the pain. Also, giving a voice to the past where people were treated as amusement attractions. I also explain where some of the inspiration came from for specific writings. It’s time we embrace the full spectrum of human experience, rather than hiding or sanitizing it. This is empowering poetry about mental illness shattering stigma through art.

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Over the past three years, I’ve researched cemeteries located on the grounds of abandoned asylums. None of these asylums were prisons, nor did they house criminals. They were institutions for individuals living with mental health conditions. Based on my calculations, there are at least 100,000 unmarked graves, without identification, in the United States. They are usually marked with numbers. As my research continues, I believe this number could exceed 500,000 unmarked graves across the country. This illustration is based off a real grave in the cemetery of an institution. 1087.

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In the United States, and likely across the globe, a mental health crisis is unfolding, though it’s not the one typically highlighted in mainstream media. This poem is based on what I personally witnessed during my time in a psychiatric hospital. The abuse of children and adults is happening at an alarming rate, turning these hospitals into breeding grounds for predators. In 2025, I will release a series of articles after a decade of research and conversations with activists and lawyers who are leading the fight to expose this horrifying reality.

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The history of mental illness is a tale of both fascination and horror. England’s Bedlam Hospital, founded in 1247, is one of the most infamous examples. Originally established as a priory, it eventually became a hospital that “cared” for those society deemed “lunatics.” But this so-called care was anything but compassionate. At one point, Bedlam became a macabre sightseeing destination where visitors from all over could pay a fee to walk through the hospital and gawk at the patients, who were treated as less than human.

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