Blogs, articles, insights and research
Blogs, articles, insights and research
🧭 Navigating This Blog

Hearing about the experiences of others, and sharing tools and tips to support recovery, is one of the foundations of our culture. We can create connections by sharing about our lived experience – especially those that offer inspiration and hope.

Recovery in mental health is not always well understood; sharing your experiences makes personal recovery come alive. It also supports values and strengthens lessons learned from life experiences. It helps to build community and create connections.

You can find lots of inspirational stories; use the search bar at the top to find stories relevant to you. To return to this page after a search, please press the back button in your browser.

✍️ Share Your Experiences

If you are a registered student and would like to share about your experience, please contact us.

You can read more student experiences on our testimonials page and student development programme page.

📰 Newsletters

To make our website and newsletters more accessible from 2025 onwards, all blogs, tips and articles published in our e-newsletters will be published on this page.

You can also read PDF newsletters published before 2025.

📝 Write for the Blog

We welcome students who are interested in writing blogs, sharing reflections, or contributing creative content to support others on their recovery journey.

Get started by visiting the following links:

If you have any questions or ideas, please contact us at newleaf.wellbeingcollege@nhs.net.

Living with intent
Blog, Mindfulness, Self-care

Living with intent

How living in the moment, self-care and being kind to yourself is a win-win

Roxanne shares how living in the moment, adopting self-care strategies and being kind to themslves helps to improve their mental health and wellbeing.

6 tips to help you relax this summer
Blog, Mindfulness, Creativity for wellbeing, Self-care

6 tips to help you relax this summer

Some find it easy to realax, others not so much, but it is important to listen to our bodies, and minds, when they are telling us to slow down. This August 15th, we wanted to celebrate relaxation day by asking students who found it particularly hard to relax to do some research, and experimentation, to see if they can find some relaxing techniques that work for them. Read on to find out which tips they came up with... 

Reflective Practice
Blog, Mindfulness, Self-care, Learning for wellbeing

Reflective Practice

For our last post about #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek, in line with utilising nature, being in the moment and walking, we've written about ...

Immerse and explore Hertfordshire
Blog, Keeping active and physical exercise, Mindfulness, Spiritual self-care, Self-care, Nature and wellbeing

Immerse and explore Hertfordshire

Mental Health Awareness Week

To continue celebrating Mental Health Awareness Week by Mental Health Foundation, we will show you how ...

National Honesty Day - don't fear the tears
Blog, Mindfulness, Self-care, Communication and relationship building

National Honesty Day - don't fear the tears


Facing yourself and being honest can be scary at challenging times. However, as our student Anne has found, reflecting and being honest with yourself, as well as others, can play a huge role in aiding your mental health recovery. In recognition of National Honesty Day, we give you Anne's story.

World Mental Health Day
Blog, Campaign, Keeping active and physical exercise, Mindfulness, Self-care

World Mental Health Day

On October 10th every year, we celebrate World Mental Health Day. This year’s theme was ‘Mental Health for all. This short article considers what ‘mental health’ is and how you might reflect and plan a new activity to enhance your mental wellbeing.

Qi Gong for Home Exercise
Blog, Keeping active and physical exercise, Mindfulness, Spiritual self-care, Learning for wellbeing

Qi Gong for Home Exercise

Jason shares all about Qi Gong and how this gentle method of exercise can bring strength, movement, energy and spirituality into our lives. 

How deep breathing helps your physical and mental wellbeing
Blog, Mindfulness, Spiritual self-care, Self-care

How deep breathing helps your physical and mental wellbeing

Research shows that breathing deeply significantly improves our physical and mental health similarly to how physical exercise does: through increasing oxygen, clearing the mind and calming us