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.

My transition from male to female.
Blog, Interview, LGBT+, Self-acceptance, Opportunity building

My transition from male to female.

How LGBT+ networking can drive positive change

Samantha, commercial director in a major Construction Company, talks about her transition from male to female and how LGBT+ networking can drive change.

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. 

How being on the student development programme has helped my personal recovery
Blog, Interview, Hope and recovery, Opportunity building

How being on the student development programme has helped my personal recovery

Read about the experience of one of our experts by experience and how the student development programme has helped their personal mental health recovery

Reducing isolation and lonliness
Blog, Self-care, Giving for wellbeing, Communication and relationship building, Opportunity building

Reducing isolation and lonliness

Many people have reported that the COVID-19 outbreak has dramatically affected their mental health and wellbeing. One thing that has become quite clear over the past 18 months is that we all need to connect; whether that is face to face or over the internet. 

 

Smarts goal
Blog, Resource, Hope and recovery, Learning for wellbeing, Opportunity building

Smarts goal

Long term goals, like wanting to be healthy and happy are often the most meaningful to us, and often take the longest to achieve. Your goal can be achievable if you follow the SMARTS process to establishing them. Breaking them down into smaller steps and cultivating motivation can also be a key factor for success.

In this article, we show you how to just that, along with some detailed examples to inspire you.

Wellbeing and Open Learning Initiatives
Blog, Creativity for wellbeing, Learning for wellbeing, Opportunity building

Wellbeing and Open Learning Initiatives

Jason discusses what open source learning is and how getting involved in free learning has benefited his wellbeing.

If I shared my dreams with the world
Blog, Hope and recovery, Opportunity building

If I shared my dreams with the world

Carrie explores the importance of dreams in this imaginative piece of creative writing.

Going With The Flow
Blog, Opportunity building

Going With The Flow

Jason explores the concept of acceptance through the Chinese parable of Sai Weng Shi Ma, and how this way of thinking has allowed him to go with the flow.