We are proud to share People Need People, a new spoken-word poem written by our Chief Executive, David Palmer.

The poem was inspired by research carried out for Thrive London and draws on the voices, interviews and conversations of people who shared their lived experiences.

Including direct quotes from research participants, the poem explores the pressures that can affect mental health and wellbeing, alongside the importance of relationships, belonging, community and meaningful human connection.

The poem transforms the findings into a powerful piece of public testimony and a call for change. It reminds us that mental health cannot be considered in isolation from the circumstances of people’s lives and the communities around them.

The full research report will be published soon. It will include Dr Palmer’s recommendations for a model of care informed by the experiences and views shared by participants. You can view some of the research we have already published on our Research and Evaluation page.

We are pleased to host the poem below, read by Dr Palmer and Asima Bashir, and invite you to watch and listen to People Need People.