We Are With You

By Lydia Rose

Collage with light blue scrunched-paper effect background, featuring different sized darker blue and turquoise triangles. Illustration of a pink lotus flower in bloom and two closed buds, and their green leaves. Handwritten poem in small squares at the top reads: We are with you, {We, who honour your life} We breathe with you as you move through strife. We are with you, {We, who witness your distress} We offer comfort with arms outstretched. We are with you, {We, who speak to the Earth} We seek grounding in the nature she births. We are with you, {We, who hear your cries} We believe you and stand by your side. We are with you, {We, your ancestors above} We are with you always, forever in love.

We Are With You is a mixed media collage that envisions abolitionist approaches to supporting people during a mental health crisis. It draws on social, emotional, somatic and spiritual care that have been life-saving for me during personal moments of crisis. The piece imagines care as an act of solidarity, offering new possibilities for mental health support outside the realm of carceral psychiatry.

Across the top of the collage is a poem I wrote to express deep care for those experiencing mental distress. The background of rippled wet tissue, triangular images of underwater photography and painted watercolour lotus flowers symbolise life-affirming care that nourishes and heals the mind, body and soul.

Lydia Rose is a multidisciplinary artist, cultural organiser and creative health practitioner based in London. Her mission is to build life-affirming relations and systems through radical creativity and collaboration. She’s a co-founder of Allie’s Art Club, a grassroots community arts cooperative that provides fun and inclusive opportunities for creative expression, collective care and cultural empowerment.

Lydia’s autobiographical story is published in LGBTQIA+ Phobia in the Mental Health System, an anthology of queer survivor memoirs. Her debut spoken word album, This Body of Mine, includes a collection of performance poems on mental health, sexual violence, healing and embodiment from an intersectional feminist perspective and is available to listen to on SoundCloud.