Performance poets Dean Atta, pictured, and Yomi Sode will be taking part in a conference aimed at bringing together the worlds of poetry and clinical psychology in a new approach towards global mental health.

Natalie Isaia, a trainee clinical psychologist and lead organiser of Voices in Global Mental Health, which will be held in London on Friday 11 November, said: “We wanted to get beyond the ivory tower of academia and try to really think about peoples’ experiences and how we can offer the most meaningful support. In order to do that you need to go beyond the confines of Powerpoint presentations.”

Tom Vlietstra, a trainee clinical psychologist with Surrey and Borders NHS Foundation Trust, told Write Out Loud: “Whilst poetry as an art form is renowned for providing understanding and catharsis in relation to psychological distress, there is a history of ignoring such voices in academic and professional psychological domains.”

He added: “There are many cultures where the professional and academic understanding of distress is underplayed, whereas modalities of storytelling, art, poetry and community provide support during times of hardship. It is my opinion that to be truly inclusive the professional, academic and poetic discourses of global mental health need to be combined for a holistic approach in understanding distress.”

The conference, Voices in Global Mental Health, takes place at Resource for London in Holloway Road, north London, from 9am to 5pm. More details  

PHOTOGRAPH: GREG FREEMAN / WRITE OUT LOUD