Rhyme and Reason

Rhyme & Reason conveys the internal pain and struggle of those dealing with mental illness, homelessness, addiction, and dementia. Through non-fiction, narrative verse, the content personifies the actual symptom profiles of some of the most common and severe mental health conditions. Black and white line art drawings provide a visual context for the lived experience of each diagnosis. The interpretive artwork invites the reader to color and reflect through the medium of colored pencils. Notes & Doodles pages follow each rhyme, prompting the reader to note critical points and journal their thoughts and feelings. Finally, a comprehensive resource page sums up the primary objective of this unique publication.

This collection of poems is to be used as a guide for people who may be experiencing mental health challenges and those who love them. Art and verse combine to provide a simplistic, interactive approach to early symptom recognition and mental health awareness. Mental illness is plagued by a stigma that can force people with life-threatening symptoms to go underground. Through education, we can demystify the stigma, point the way to accessing services, and save lives.