This Is How It Feels

With the campaign closing tomorrow I just want to say a massive thank you again to everyone who has supported this book.

The book is going to print locally next week which means it’s not long before these books will be going out to spaces where they can help.

If you have suggestions of places that you think should receive some gifted books, you can email me at Quiet Tides Press quiettidespress@gmail.com

I will be starting with schools, community mental health services, and family services.

You can also email me if you would like to purchase books for yourself. 

Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou 💛

As the rest of us enjoyed the warm sunny weekend, our talented graphic designer sacrificed the sunshine and continued to work away on the book. And I’ll tell you what, it looks amazing!!

Like the rest of our team, Adrian is donating his time and expertise and it gives me warm fuzzy feelings to see all of us coming together to help others. 

And ‘us’ includes you - anyone who has shared or donated or supported this book in other ways. Thank you so much 💛

One week to go!  Let’s not stop now. Let’s get as many books printed and out there as we can 👏 🎉

Wow! We are nearly at our target thanks to the amazing, kind, and generous donations we have received so far. Thank you all so much, it means a great deal to us all.

This book has received more support than I dared hope for. Because of this, and the support of such respected people as Dame Sue Bagshaw, we will be setting a higher stretch goal when we hit our initial target so that we can print and gift more books. 

So never fear - if you are still wanting to support this project by sharing or donating, you are absolutely able to do so, and we are incredibly grateful for every bit of support we receive.

Many of the contributors to this book have experienced painful stigma and exclusion, and I know how much your support means to them personally. They feel valued and heard,  and so pleased to be able to help others walking this path, and those walking alongside them.

I felt that this poem deserved some special artwork, so I asked the very talented Trinity, as he had offered to contribute.  Both of these creative souls have great depth and I am honoured to be able to share their work.

As a Māori with a troubled mind,
A journey through shadows, hard to find.
I navigate the depths of despair,
Seeking solace, but it seems so rare.

Through ancestral whispers, I hear their call,
Guiding me, as I stumble and fall.
But the weight of mental illness, heavy and cruel,
Takes its toll, like a relentless duel.

The taonga of my heritage, so rich and deep,
But my mind is tangled, a turmoil to keep.
The scars of colonization, they still remain,
Inherited trauma, a persistent stain.

I'm told to be strong, to never show fear,
But inside, I'm crumbling, my soul unclear.
The pressure to conform, to fit the mold,
Leaves me feeling lost, shattered and cold.

The wairua within me, a flickering light,
Struggling to shine, in the midst of the night.
The stigma surrounding mental health,
Makes it hard to share, to express myself.

But I am more than my illness, I am Māori,
A warrior with a story, full of glory.
I draw strength from my ancestors' grace,
Their resilience, their wisdom, a sacred place.

I embrace the healing power of whakapapa,
Connecting to the land, to the whenua, a mantra.
Reclaiming my identity, my true self,
Unfolding the layers, a journey to delve.

With love and support, from whānau and friends,
I find solace, as the darkness mends.
Seeking help is not a sign of weakness,
But a step towards healing, a pathway to harness.

So, I stand proud, a Māori with mental illness,
Nurturing my wairua, with strength and stillness.
Honoring my heritage, as I embrace my truth,
A warrior on a journey, seeking mental health's soothing soothe.

It was very moving to receive this message from the amazing Dame Sue Bagshaw. This endorsement means so much.

"I think this book needs to be read by all parents of young people (aged 10-25 years) who aren’t doing well, all teachers of young people and all therapists of whatever kind they are who work with young people.

The book puts into words and illustrations all the stories I have heard from young people over the last 30 years.

The sadness for me is that whilst many have recovered by their mid 20’s many go on suffering because they haven’t received the connections and listening they really needed, early in their journey."

I’m incredibly grateful that this Boosted campaign has been shared by organisations including Arts Access Aotearoa and Creative Spaces Ōtautahi. Their support means a great deal and helps this project reach wider creative, community, and wellbeing networks across Aotearoa.

Having organisations who champion access, inclusion, and the arts amplify this work feels like a strong affirmation of the kaupapa behind the book. Every share helps bring these lived experience stories closer to the spaces where they’re most needed.

Thank you to everyone who has shared, donated, encouraged, or simply taken the time to read about the project — your support truly matters.