As anyone who was picked on at school knows, life is hard when you're not in with the in-crowd. It's a dog-eat-dog world in the school playground, and any child who stands out from the rest because they're too clever, too fat, too unsporty or not trendy enough, yearns to fit in.

However much they might want to speak out about how they are feeling, they are often unable to articulate their difficulties.

A new anthology of poems has been written by people in Oxford who feel they are forced to live life while standing on the sidelines. People suffering from mental illness, asylum-seekers, the homeless or victims of racism have all contributed works to Hidden Treasures: An Anthology of Oxford Writers.

The book has been compiled to give a voice to the people who usually feel they are brushed to one side because of society's conventions. It gives them a chance to have their say.

Several of the contributors are members of the Discovery Group, an Oxford support group for people suffering from severe mental illness.

Jane Chung, 31, has battled hard against her illness and other people's prejudices to get where she is today. She has been manic depressive for nearly ten years and is a member of the Discovery Group,

Jane, from Rose Hill, believes the long-term causes of her illness can be traced back to the death of her father, Esmond, of leukaemia, when she was 13. While her mother grieved for him, Jane found it fell to her to be strong and help hold the family together.

By the age of 21, Jane started to find she was experiencing extreme mood swings and was admitted to the Littlemore psychiatric hospital.

Her illness made her feel isolated and alone and over the years she lost one set of friends completely because she found it impossible to explain her condition to them. Her illness made her feel different to other people, which she found particularly difficult to accept when she was younger.

After years of therapy sessions and medication, Jane's illness is now under control and she says she sees her condition more as an asset than as a liability.

She says: "I think it has been widely recognised that a lot of creative people have or have had some sort of mental illness. It has meant that they have had to get to grips with a basic need to survive and that is not something everyone experiences.

"My illness is very much a part of me and I see it as being positive because of that. I started writing two years ago after my psychologist suggested writing would help me understand what was happening inside me.

"I find it really helps to write every few weeks or so. It helps me make sense of everything."

Jane wrote a piece, called The Gift, for the anthology, in which she expresses how she sees her mental illness as a little extra that helps make her individual.

She says: "In the piece I wanted people to see that I don't see my illness as a massive, negative thing. It's a part of me and I accept that and try to see it as an extra bonus, rather than something to be embarrassed or ashamed of.

"Creative writing is a way of coping with my frustrations and anger when people don't understand or judge me."

Rachael Smart, 54, of Risinghurst, who contributed to the book under a pen name, was diagnosed with manic depression 30 years ago.

Life for Rachael has not been easy. Her mental illness often left her feeling drained and she found other people, especially in the workplace - ironically in the caring profession - were prejudiced and found it hard to accept her work would be unaffected by her condition.

In many ways Rachael is very bitter.

"People with mental illnesses are used to mega-rejection. You become very good at accepting it. It has taken a long time for me to learn how best to cope.

"I believe that so much of everyday life is based on lies. People lie and say they are fine when are not, they say they are pleased to see you, when it couldn't be further from the truth.

"It's no wonder our minds get frazzled and find it hard to make sense of the information we are feeding in.

"I would like to be open and honest but it's so hard to do that.

"People have a real problem with it and that's why I feel as if my voice is being stifled. I have been writing for longer than I care to remember. It gives me a much-needed outlet."

Rachael also refuses to have a victim mentality.

"I don't see us as being victims, I just think our illness means we have to fight all the harders.

"Of course it's difficult and some people do experience loneliness and feelings of isolation, but I believe it is better to be alone than in the wrong company. I believe in openness and honesty and that can get me into trouble.

"At least if I write it all I down I am able to articulate my concerns."