Can “Poetry Saves Lives?” Festival shares how poetry benefits mental health.

Fall in Michigan is one of the most beautiful times of year, filled with amazing events to engage with family and community. One event worth highlighting is the Grand River Poetry Collective‘s free, three-day “Poetry Saves Lives” festival, bringing one of the most beautiful styles of writing to the West Michigan community.

According to the American Psychiatric Association, poetry can support mental health in many ways, “Reading or listening to poetry can remind us of shared experiences such as grief, despair, or hope. It can provide comfort, help people feel less alone or encourage reflection. Poetry can be a safe place to express overwhelming feelings, to say things that are difficult to talk about. It can help people release and express difficult and complex emotions without having to explain everything. Sharing poetry can spark conversation and share thoughts and reflections. It can help people connect with others.”

“Poetry has been saving lives for thousands of years,” says Neil Kaufman, co-organizer of the festival alongside Grand Rapids Poet Laureate Christine Stephens Krieger. “It’s one of humanity’s least expensive and most time-tested outlets, forms of media, and fine arts, embraced by every walk of life. Poetry reconciles. It saves my life better than having my own personal superhero. It can save yours, too.”

Poetry Saves Lives will explore the relationship between poetry and mental health through workshops, performances, discussions and opportunities for community connection. A panel discussion will feature people with backgrounds in both poetry and mental health. Overall, the three-day festival is designed to explore poetry from a variety of perspectives — not just through writing and reading, but through art, movement, music, food and conversation.

“We’re going to be using a variety of approaches to highlight the relationship between poetry and mental health,” Kaufman says. “The events cover everything from having a potluck and talking about poetry over a meal to many more exciting offerings.”

The festival will take place Thursday, October 15 through Saturday October 17, 2026 at Grand Rapids’ 106 Gallery, 106 Division South 49503, creating an entire weekend of reading, writing, speaking, listening, sharing and belonging.  At its heart is a simple message: Poetry is for everyone.

During the opening night potluck, people can gather informally and talk about poetry. Attendees can participate in an art-based workshop where they view artwork and write poetry inspired by what they see. A dance workshop will offer another way to experience poetry through movement. The jazz band Art Sauce will be performing during the festival’s finale open mic.

The theme grew out of a conversation. Krieger heard Kaufman use the phrase “poetry saves lives” and recognized its potential as the festival’s title and central idea.

Particular significant for Kaufman, he will host the open mic Friday, October 16, titled “How Has Poetry Saved Your Life?” Participants will have an opportunity to talk about the ways poetry has uplifted, improved, or changed their lives before sharing a poem. The open mic captures the festival’s central question: What can poetry give us that ordinary conversation sometimes cannot?

“Really, I think that what I like the most about all of the events like this is the community just coming together,” Kaufman says. “There is something for everyone.”

For Kaufman, that variety is part of what makes the festival exciting. Poetry doesn’t have to exist on a page. It can be a way of moving, listening, observing, talking and connecting with others. That makes the festival especially welcoming for people who may not consider themselves poets.

“One of the fears that a lot of people have is public speaking,” Kaufman said. “By no means do we imply that by having a workshop, we’re going to have you read.”

Participants are free to write without ever sharing their work publicly. They can take a poem home, show it to someone they trust — or show it to no one at all. The emphasis is on creating a safe and inclusive environment where people can explore their own voices at their own pace. The poetry scene in Grand Rapids prides itself on welcoming those who may be seasoned poets, those who may be lovers of poetry, and those who may not know yet. That is a big reason why this festival welcomes all. The organizers are not expecting expert poets who have written poetry for their entire life. Moreso, this is an opportunity to introduce poetry and encourage those who may not be familiar with it or feel intimidated.

“The real main focus is that it doesn’t matter the medium,” Kaufman says. “Writing and expressing ourselves through poetry, maybe even utilizing spoken word, does great things for mental health and really benefits all those who engage with it. Familiar with poetry or not, we want everyone to have access to it.”

And for anyone still unsure about attending, Kaufman’s advice is simple: Start small.

“If there’s an event that speaks to you, maybe go to that event,” he says. “Don’t try to do the whole thing. There are eight total events to choose from and something for everyone to enjoy.”

The festival has no requirements to attend every workshop, write a poem, perform, or share anything personal. Visitors can choose the experiences that feel comfortable to them while learning more about the potential mental health benefits of poetry.

The Collective also hosts a Poetry Critique Group the first Saturday of the month at the Grand Rapids Public Library main branch and the third Wednesday of the month at Schuler Books Grand Rapids as well as a featured poet reading their work on the second Tuesday of the month at Fountain Street Church.

“There’s a magic that happens when a lot of poets recite their poetry together, where all of a sudden connections start sprouting up across people’s poetry so that they now have, maybe, a common symbol,” Kaufman says.

Photos courtesy Grand River Poetry Collective.

The MI Mental Health series highlights the opportunities that Michigan’s children, teens and adults of all ages have to find the mental health help they need, when and where they need it. It is made possible with funding from the Community Mental Health Association of Michigan, Center for Health and Research Transformation, Lifeways, OnPoint, Sanilac County CMH, Summit Pointe, Michigan Health and Hospital Association, Washtenaw CMH, and Public Safety Preservation Millage.