Short-Term Educational Programme (STEP)

Due to the ongoing Coronavirus outbreak we have made changes to the way this service is delivered. To find out more please visit shsc.nhs.uk/coronavirus

The Short-Term Educational Programme (STEP) city-wide service provids free educational courses that are designed to help with a range of mental health conditions. 

Our aim is to work with you to build your confidence, develop positive coping strategies and help your reach your goals. 

If you want to learn new ways of looking after your mental health and emotional wellbeing, then these courses may be appropriate for you. 

What sessions can I access?

We currently offer five different courses, they are:

• Bipolar Self-Management – this nine educational programme aims to provide support to people with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. The course will help you to develop coping strategies for managing your mood, identify early warning signs and better understand the impact stress can have on your mental wellbeing. 
• Understanding Borderline Personality Disorder – this course will help you understand the experiences associated with Borderline Personality Disorder and emotional sensitivity and discover ways to manage these. This will include developing coping skills to manage distress and interpersonal relationship, as well as introducing you to Mindfulness. 
• #STEPforward (formerly known as Transitions) – this course is specifically aimed at young people aged 16 to 25. If you are worried about your mental wellbeing and finding it difficult to manage the course aims to help you learn new coping skills to support your wellbeing and help you move forward. 
• Understanding Insomnia and Improving Sleep – this course explores the possible causes of Insomnia and aims to help you to develop strategies to manage Insomnia and improve your sleep through a range of evidence based tools and skills. 
• Recovery Education Programme – the aim of this course is to build on your coping strategies and help take control of your own recovery. Over the course you will explore ideas around recovery to help you build on your strengths and empower you to move forward with your life. 

Each course runs over a number of weeks and are developed and facilitated by experienced members of the team alongside volunteers and peer support workers who all have lived experience of the topic you’re covering. 

The course facilitators actively promote self-compassion and self-care, and will encourage you to practice this on the course and in-between sessions. 

How is the service accessed?

We accept referrals for people aged 18 and over (except for the #STEPForward course which is 16-25) living in Sheffield and registered with a Sheffield GP. 

If you would like to attend one of our courses please speak to your mental health worker, IAPT worker or GP who can refer you to the service. 

We do not accept self-referrals. 

You can take a look at our service eligibility and selection criteria by clicking here. 

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