A West Lothian woman is set to publish her second book of poetry this month detailing her experience coping with her mental health.
‘Resilience: A Person, Not Just a Patient’ is Angela McCrimmon’s second book of collected poetry which is set to begin distribution in the UK on August 17 - following up from the poet's first book ‘Can you hear me now?: Finding my voice in a system that stole it’ that was published in 2016.
The established author from Livingston spent the last six years working on her new poetry book - which while maintaining the theme of mental health, differs entirely in tone and content from her first.
Angela’s second book maintains the raw honesty that she is known for, but instead relays the author’s more recent experiences in the mental health system and in life.
She said: ”A lot has changed from when I first published my book in 2016. My first book relayed my 20 years of being in the system and the problems I had with it.
“My new book has a different feel but it’s equally as honest as the first. I feel what people respond to most in my writing is my brutal honesty.
“My treatment and treatment care team has changed in the last six years and I’m a lot more active in engaging with my treatment and speaking up when I agree or disagree with treatment.
“Any kind of experience I do have with health services now is much more positive and productive.
“My new book reflects that - in the first book I had no hope in a mental health system that was so broken.”
In the new book, the poet covers new themes such as Covid-19, loss of family, and supporting her own mental health and wellbeing as well as including photographs to help illustrate her poetry.
Angela’s lived experience is an asset to those trying to improve the UK’s mental health services with mental health professionals using it in various ways for teaching.
The poet recently spoke at Scottish parliament with Kevin Stewart, Minister for wellbeing and social care, who was discussing the new mental health strategy.
Another local supporter of the West Lothian poet is Livingston MP, Hannah Bardell, who has previously read some of Angela’s poetry in parliament during mental health debates.
The MP provided an endorsement printed on the back of the book.
It reads: “Angela’s work continues to be of such huge importance to our community and country.
“Her unique insights and gift of writing convey what many can not about struggles and experiences of mental health.
“This book is vital, and so is Angela.”
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