Blogs
“I used to climb mountains”: How Richard found new meaning in life after traumatic loss
After two heart attacks, Richard* went from a life of adventure to struggling with alcohol, drug use and suicidal thoughts. With support from our housing support service Step…
Read MoreHow can we use power correctly – Creating trust, choice and equality in mental health services
As October marks both World Mental Health Day and Black History Month, we’ve decided to focus on a topic which…
Read More“I learnt that being neurodivergent is not a curse, it is simply a different way of being” – Jacqui’s story
For World Mental Health Day this October we are sharing Jacqui’s uplifting story. Through her work with Lottie, her Recovery…
Read More“We always ask clients where they’d have gone without us – one said ‘to my grave.’”
We speak to staff from our suicide prevention services on World Suicide Prevention Day 2025. Content warning: mentions of suicidal…
Read MoreHow to be an LGBTQIA+ ally: A workplace guide
Recovery Navigator Phoebe Horrocks is LGBTQIA+ lead for Second Step’s Community Rehabilitation service in Bristol. In this role, she proudly…
Read MoreRebecca’s Story: “Volunteering got me back into a place of living, rather than existing”
The first week of June marks Volunteers’ Week, a time to celebrate the compassion, dedication and vital contributions of our…
Read MoreCelebrating community for Mental Health Awareness Week
This year’s Mental Health Awareness Week theme is community – something we see the value of every day at Second…
Read MoreHow My Team Around Me is changing the way we work
Navigating how and where to find support can be tricky at the best of times. For people experiencing multiple disadvantage,…
Read More“When something bad happens, it can make you feel a little braver than you were before”: How visiting a wellness café taught me the value of my lived experiences.
After her mum passed away in 2022, Tania’s faith in health services was shaken and she was left struggling with…
Read More‘Connection is so important but is so overlooked’
Amy Hardwick, Health Improvement Manager for Mental Health and Wellbeing at Somerset Council has worked in partnership with Stepladder to…
Read More