A Tyrone woman has raised over £5,000 for mental health charity AWARE NI through sales of her debut poetry collection.

Michelle Gormley published 'The Circle of Life' while on maternity leave following the death of her father, Michael, in June 2025. The collection explores grief, motherhood, fertility struggles, loss and hope. More than 200 copies have been sold, reaching readers across Ireland and as far as the United States.

Ms Gormley, who turns 40 in October, said she had been encouraged by friends to do something with her poetry. She described writing as a way of processing her emotions, calling it her therapy and an outlet for making sense of life.

She acknowledged feeling vulnerable when sharing such personal work, but said readers responded by telling her their own stories. Her poems have been used at family funerals, performed in speech and drama examinations, and shared with loved ones.

Margaret McCrossan, community and events fundraising officer at AWARE NI, said Ms Gormley's story showed how creativity can help people process life's challenges and connect with others. She added that every conversation started by the book helps break down stigma surrounding mental health, while each sale enables the charity to continue providing free peer-led support across Northern Ireland.