Great Harwood woman's 'bi-polar battle' poetry published

Melissa Lee-Hoghton first began experiencing mental health problems at the age of 15 and says she came ‘within inches’ of ending her life on a number of occasions.

Melissa, now 28, who lives with her husband, son and daughter in Great Harwood, was diagnosed with manic depression at the age of 21.

The former St Bartholomew’s and Norden High pupil, already an established freelance writer, will now have an anthology of her work sold by all major retailers, including Waterstones and Amazon.

The anthology called A Body Made Of You consists of poems each creating a ‘portrait’ of a friend or family member.

They were written during a difficult period for Melissa while in and out of hospital in 2009.

The work, published by independent literary press and arts producer Penned In the Margins, has been hailed as a ‘tour de force’ by many on London’s poetry and literary scene.

She said: “Hearing they were going to publish was just the best news ever.

“When I wrote the poems for the anthology I was a very tough time and the writing kept me going.

“It was very therapeutic and I wrote 100 in total which was too many for a book, so I used 30 of them for this anthology.”

She says she now wants to raise awareness of the condition and that it is possible to both manage it and to live a successful life.

She said: ”Things have been really difficult.

“The depression is about as bad as it can get and when you’re manic. You will do anything as long as its stimulating. It’s frightening.”

“I am very determined, though, and I was going to get the right medication for me. I have a really lovely life now, but it’s hard for people to accept that someone with bi-polar can.

“If I could do anything with my life it would be to make people see that you can have a life, you can have a family, even if you have a mental health problem.”

A Body Made Of You is published by Penned In The Margins, at £8.99 from all major retailers.