R&B singer-songwriter Lola Young performs a powerful spoken word piece which she wrote after being paired with Haleem – a volunteer with experience of mental health problems.

The piece covers various aspects of Haleem’s life and his mental health story and was written following a series of zoom calls between Lola and Haleem – arranged as a partnership between Universal Music and UK mental health charity Mind.

Despite increasing levels of mental health awareness, many people feel disconnected from the mental health system. They don’t recognise themselves in communications or relate to the voices speaking to them. So they don’t engage with the support they need.

For leading UK mental health charity, Mind, this disconnect was especially apparent for people from racialised communities, those living in poverty, young people with experience of trauma, and in some UK regions. Mind needed to reduce the gap between awareness and action, and help people recognise when they may have a problem.

We had to escape any sense of professionals – advertising or healthcare – talking at people and make a genuine connection with the audiences that need it most. Mind’s mission is to not give up until everyone experiencing a mental health problem gets support and respect, so we needed to encourage them to contact the charity and seek support.

I was a quiet child with a loud mind.

Aged 5 Father said big boys don't cry.

I guess that's why I walked blind,

sunken-eyed.

Each step takes time, Mother said.

Strength comes with patience,

and patience comes with intent.

I didn’t have much of either,

just enough to roll out of bed.

I read this book one time; the words were like flesh.

It taught me something that I'll never forget –

that dandelions are like 80% of people

that can bloom in any environment.

You see, me, I’m more like an orchid instead,

I need a little more sun sometimes

and wind can send me off edge.

But one thing I've learnt is the mind is made of glass,

half full or half empty depends on the circumstance.

But even when I'm quiet, and even when it’s loud,

me, myself and I, yeah, we've gotta stick around.

Mind identified groups that feel particularly disconnected from the mental health system: People from racialised communities; Those living in poverty; Young people with experience of trauma; And particular regions of the UK.

In these communities, discussing mental health is generally regarded as taboo or a weakness.

On top of this a number of other factors prevent people from taking action:

Fear of vulnerability and exposing themselves to stigma/discrimination; Ability and apathy – that help seems impossible and nothing has helped before; Denial and unworthiness – that they are not worthy of help/support or telling themselves there is nothing wrong; and distrust in a mental health system that does not represent, speak to, or understand them.