Stories From the Inside Out

This book has been in my mind for many a long year. Since 2016, when I first formed my community interest company I have been working in prison, with people in need of some help and support with their mental health.
Mental health in prison is a serious problem and by taking a friendly voice, and a friendly face into prison we find that the men respond positively. Many men in prison will suffer from mental illness. It may be as simple as depression or anxiety. Which can lead to self-harm, and even suicide. The problem is in their mind and if we can overcome that problem then we can reduce those activities that nobody wants to see.
Poetry in prison is a simple solution. A way of bringing an interest to the men, which we call a “therapeutic intervention”. By guiding the residents through the process of creative writing they learn to write a poem. I show them examples of poetry that I've written. I lead by example, and that creates a trust and respect between us that helps reduce the problems they are experiencing.
This book details conversations that I have had with many men in prison. And we talk about their situation. How they got there and what they hope to learn while they're in prison. All of these things, to an outsider, maybe alien. But to somebody on the inside. they are very important factors in their life.
Some mental health problems can only be overcome with drugs and treatments. Equally some mental health problems can be reduced or eradicated with a friendly voice. This book will seek to show you how the men in prison react when we speak to them, when we treat them as people and not as prisoners. And when we take a small piece of the outside, inside.