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Mental Health Initiative

Holistic Horrors: Poetry & Wellness

This month on Holistic Horrors we take a brief look at the role of poetry in promoting well-being and connectiveness. Numerous studies suggest that this is the case. For example, in their 2018 study examining the value of writing poetry as a “means to help people living with chronic pain to explore and express their narratives in their own unique way”, researchers Hovey, Khayat, and Feig concluded that “to write cathartic poetry means bringing into presence our inner reflective thinking, emotions, and self-empathy to help ourselves and others who suffer alongside us.”

New Year Resolutions

Happy New Year to all our colleagues for 2024!

As we head into 2024, and before the Wellness Committee gets stuck into its work for the coming year, it is appropriate to take a pause to thank everyone who has supported and engaged with the work of the committee over the past twelve months, to celebrate our collective achievements in raising awareness of the mental health initiative, and to reflect again on our mission to promote positive mental health, foster the concept of hope, and challenge the stigma of mental illness in the horror genre. In the main, our work has involved development of programs such as NOTABLE WORKS, facilitating panel events and discussions, curating articles and blogs, providing sensitivity reading services to conferences and festivals, and awareness outreach to the wider horror community. We could not have carried out this work without the engagement and encouragement of HWA members and we are grateful for your enthusiastic support.

Trigger warning: This article discusses mental health.

MHI: HOW HORROR CAN OFFER SOLACE

The following post contains this writer’s individual experiences and opinions.  This post should not be interpreted as mental health diagnosis or treatment. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis,… Read more

MHI: Mental Monsters by Senah Lloyd

*The following post contains this writer’s individual experiences and opinions.  This post should not be interpreted as mental health diagnosis or treatment. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis,… Read more

REVIEWS: IT by Stephen King

Welcome to Derry, Maine ... It’s a small city, a place as hauntingly familiar as your own hometown. Only in Derry the haunting is real ... They were seven pre-teens when they first stumbled upon the horror. Now they are grownups who have gone out into the big world to gain success and happiness. But none of them can withstand the force that has drawn them back to Derry to face the nightmare without an end, and the evil without a name.

REVIEW: Whalefall by Daniel Kraus

Daniel Kraus’ novel, WHALEFALL, was reviewed by the HWA’s Mental Health Initiative Notable Works readers. On its surface, WHALEFALL is a story of Jay Gardiner, a young man swallowed by… Read more

HOLISTIC HORRORS: An interview with Dave Jeffery

Trigger Warning: This article addresses mental health.

An interview with Dave Jeffery Today on Holistic Horrors I have the privilege to interview my HWA Wellness Committee co-chair, Dave Jeffery, about… Read more

YOU WILL NEVER BE FREE OF ME

Trigger Warning: This article addresses mental health.

Henry Corrigan is a bestselling author, husband, father, and bisexual creative who loves to write every kind of story. His debut horror novel,… Read more

Notable Works from the Mental Health Initiative

Background

There is an established link between mental health stigma and poor recovery from mental illness. Stigma is hurtful and demeaning, and drives those who experience it to isolate themselves… Read more

REVIEW: Riptide by Dan Rabarts

RIPTIDE by DAN RABARTS
Short story review by Lee Murray A multiple winner of the Australian Shadows and Sir Julius Vogel Awards, Kiwi Dan Rabarts (Ngāti Porou) is well known… Read more

OLD WIVES’ TALE

Trigger Warning: This article addresses mental health.

  Cindy O’Quinn is a four-time HWA Bram Stoker Award-nominated writer. Born and raised in the mountains of West Virginia, now living and… Read more

HAVE YOU EVER SEEN THE RAIN? │ Tim Waggoner

Trigger Warning: This article discusses mental health.

Written by Tim Waggoner In addition to being a writer, I teach composition and creative writing at Sinclair College in Dayton, Ohio. In… Read more

SERPENT’S WAKE: ADDRESSING TRAUMA AND RECOVERY

Trigger Warning: This article addresses mental health

An interview with L.E Daniels This month on Holistic Horrors, the Wellness Committee is pleased to welcome author-editor L.E. Daniels (Lauren Elise) to… Read more

MHI: MY SCARY VALENTINE

Trigger Warning: This article addresses mental health.

MY SCARY VALENTINE
By Maria Alexander

February 14, 2005 That was the day it first happened. I only remember it because it was… Read more
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