Poetry Gives Voice to Anxious Teen
A teenager from Dudley has shared how poetry helped him overcome severe anxiety that once left him too frightened to leave his bedroom. Dylan, who felt 'completely stuck' at his lowest point, discovered his love for writing after receiving mental health support at school.
Dylan initially found support at local youth hubs including Routes, with services like Reflexions and Here4Youth in Dudley continuing to provide vital safe spaces. 'Using poetry helped me say things I couldn't talk about before,' Dylan explained. 'I was really nervous about speaking in public, but once I stepped on stage, it felt like the nerves disappeared.'
From Bedroom to Stage
Dylan was at one stage too anxious to leave his bedroom and said he felt 'stuck'. But following a mental health referral, the teen discovered a love of poetry, which has helped him to open up. He now advocates for mental health awareness and encourages other young people to seek help. 'Don't give up hope,' he says.
Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust highlights that over one million children in England had active mental health referrals in the year to March 2025. Specialist emotional wellbeing nurse Kirsty Moss said Dylan's journey shows the importance of early intervention.
How to Access Support
Young people struggling with mental health can access support through their school's Mental Health Lead, who can guide families to local services like Reflexions. The trust emphasizes that early help can make a significant difference in outcomes for young people facing anxiety and other mental health challenges.
