02/09/2026
Steâs has requested that I share his journey of recovery and resilience with the hope that it encourages other men and women to reach out for support.
Eleven months ago, Ste walked into Hope Street with his mum, extremely anxious.
When he arrived, Ste said, âI might only stay for half an hour, and if Iâm too anxious, can I leave?â
He was reassured that this was absolutely fine and that he could leave whenever he felt he needed to. However, Ste and his mum stayed the full two hours, only stepping outside for a few minutes to get some fresh air.
The following week, Ste returned â this time on his own â and stayed for the full two-hour mental health peer support session.
Since then, Ste has attended our sessions every week, travelling from St Helens. Even when his car broke down, he refused to let that become a barrier, making the journey using two forms of public transport so that he could continue attending.
Ste shared that he really wanted to express himself through his poetry, so we encouraged him to come along to our expressive arts, where he not only shared his poetry, but also found the confidence to sing and dance alongside his peers.
Ste was also struggling with sleep. He was going to bed very late and often not waking until the late afternoon, which meant he was missing out on important services and opportunities that could support his mental health and wellbeing.
Together, we put a simple strategy in place. Ste began setting his alarm slightly earlier each day and bringing his nighttime medication forward, gradually helping his body adjust to an earlier bedtime.
Today, Ste has developed a healthy and consistent sleep routine, going to bed around 9:30â10:00 pm and waking at approximately 7:30â8:00 am.
And his progress doesnât stop there.
Ste has now joined a boxing club and goes to the gym three times a week, further supporting both his physical and mental wellbeing and playing an important role in his ongoing recovery.
Most importantly, Ste has shown incredible commitment to his own recovery. From the anxious man who walked through our doors 11 months ago unsure if he could stay for half an hour, to someone who now regularly attends peer support, expresses himself creatively, maintains a healthy routine, travels independently to access support, and actively invests in his physical and mental wellbeing â his journey has been remarkable.
I would love for us to celebrate Ste and the incredible work he has put into his own recovery. His determination, courage and willingness to take small steps outside of his comfort zone have enabled him to build confidence, reconnect with others and live a much more fulfilled life.
Steâs story is a powerful reminder that recovery doesnât happen overnight. It happens one small, brave step at a time â and every one of those steps deserves to be celebrated.
