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.

Life Long Learning
Blog, Creativity for wellbeing, Learning for wellbeing, Opportunity building

Life Long Learning

Learning is crucial for mental wellbeing, as this student discovered. Read their story, see personal pictures and discover why learning helps our mental health. 

Time to Talk - to myself
Blog, Self-acceptance, Learning for wellbeing, Communication and relationship building

Time to Talk - to myself

Self-soothing talking therapies

Talking is powerful. It gives freedom; to explore thoughts, gain clarity and ask and answer difficult questions. 

There are many talking therapies and services that allow us to talk through our feelings, but what do you do when you just don't feel like talking to anyone else?

This student shares their personal self-soothing talking strategies and the success they have had since using them. 

 

How to improve your digital skills and gain access to equipment
Resource, Resilience, Disability and accessibility, Learning for wellbeing

How to improve your digital skills and gain access to equipment

Our courses are delivered either using the online Zoom platform or in the classroom in our campuses across Hertfordshire. Read more about this announcement to find out how it affects face-to-face courses and what support is available for those needing to access online courses.

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 ...

7 mental health lessons from the Star Wars films
Blog, Resilience, Creativity for wellbeing, Hope and recovery, Learning for wellbeing

7 mental health lessons from the Star Wars films

May the force (and good health) be with you

Did you know that re-watching movies you love helps your wellbeing? It’s...

Creative recycling (celebrating earth day)
Blog, Creativity for wellbeing, Learning for wellbeing, Nature and wellbeing

Creative recycling (celebrating earth day)

Have you ever considered how creative recycling could help your wellbeing? In this article our students give you examples of creative recycling and why it can help your wellbeinng.

Celebrating Neurodiversity
Blog, Neurodivsersity, Learning for wellbeing

Celebrating Neurodiversity

This week (15th - 21st March) is Neurodiversity week. One of our students has detailed how having learning differences has impacted their life, along with some real inspiriting lessons for us all.

Therapy Cat
Blog, Creativity for wellbeing, Spiritual self-care, Self-care, Learning for wellbeing, Nature and wellbeing

Therapy Cat

How my cat helps my wellbeing

Jeanette describes her cuddly cat and the discovery she’s made about how pets can help our wellbeing.