10/10/2026
This World Mental Health Day, we’re reflecting on the power of sharing our stories, the importance of being heard, and the connections that can grow when we create space for people to speak openly about their experiences.
On Wednesday evening, eight incredible storytellers came together for ‘In My Own Words’ - a special event marking the culmination of a six-week writing programme inspired by The Moth storytelling nights.
Each storyteller took to the stage to share their own personal account of lived experience, offering us an honest, moving and deeply human insight into their worlds.
It was an incredibly powerful evening. Every story was unique, yet together they reminded us of the importance of sharing our stories to help us make sense of our experiences, feel less alone, and build understanding and connection with others.
It was an absolute privilege to listen to each person share their story with such courage, honesty and generosity. We know that putting our experiences into words and sharing them with others isn’t always easy, and we are so grateful to everyone who trusted us with a piece of their world. A special thanks also has to go out to our audience who listened so intently giving our storytellers the care and attention their stories deserved.
This World Mental Health Day, let’s keep making space for stories, keep listening without judgement, and keep reminding one another that every story matters, every voice deserves to be heard, and no one should have to feel alone.
“We may start as strangers, but by the end of the story we are closer - and that is the ultimate point. The act of sharing personal stories builds empathy and out of many stories we become one community.
It starts with a single story.”
[From ‘The Moth: How to tell a story’]
This evening was funded and supported by Barnsley Council public health and Barnsley Libraries. It was part of the Library Lates programme.
