Supporting those living with mental illness, chronic pain and disabilities by using creativity.
Winner of TWO Mind Kent Mental Wellbeing Awards in 2023!
I’m Steph, an award winning writer and illustrator specialising in Mental Health, Mental Illness, Chronic Pain and Grief, and I’m based in South East UK.
I’m proud to be the ‘Creative Volunteer and Mental Health Advocate‘ for Cruse (South East) – the UK’s bereavement support charity. I’m also a blogger for the disability, arts and culture charity Disability Arts Online.
I provide artwork and articles for exhibitions and online and print publications on the lived experience of mental illness and disability. I also enter competitions with short stories on the same subjects.
I have nearly a decade of experience with multiple mental illnesses including borderline personality disorder, panic disorder and acute agoraphobia. I also have physical limitations that impact my daily pain and mobility which are the reason I’m now an ambiulatory wheelchair user. I’m diagnosed with degerative disc disease, sacroilitis, M.E./C.F.S and in 2022 I was diagnosesd with PoTs (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome), EDS (Ehlers Danlos Syndrome) and Post Covid syndrome. My brain pain and physical pain have kept me indoors, only stepping outside once, for nearly 3 years now. The impact of social isolation is something I try to talk about openly. I provide support links and advice at the end of my posts so, even if I seem negative, I’m always looking for solutions – as shown in my COPE Campaign, which has ideas to manage stressful moments in a variety of ways including kid friendly stress hacks, adults only stress hacks and sleep hacks.
This site has pledged and been accepted to the Mental Health Media Charter, confirming that the advice and information given is carefully considered (with advice researched) before it’s posted.
This site is also one of the Feedspot Top 20 U.K. Mental Health blogs.
I try to shine a light on the parts of Mental Ill-Health and chronic pain that are still very misunderstood using my own thoughts on hidden disabilities, Mental Illness and being a self-confessed Spoonie. I hope to make it clear that ‘it’s ok not to be ok’.
I’m so happy you’re here, and I hope you find the mental health support, chronic pain information and creative coping systems you need.
Creative Steph is the home of the FREE suicide prevention safety plan called the Mates Offering Support Anytime In Crisis (MOSAIC) Card.
MOSAIC Plans and Cards
This page is the home of information on the MOSAIC plan (Mates Offering Support Anytime in Crisis) – a new mental health and suicide prevention tool created and designed by me.
You can also add yourself or your organisation to the waitlist for the next print run of FREE MOSAIC cards by emailing me at steph@creativesteph.co.uk.
Latest Blog Post
Has my health made me a failure? I seem to think so.
***TRIGGER WARNING*** This is a post primarily about low self confidence and feeling like a failure. The post will talk about general mental wellbeing and the impact of social isolation and loneliness, chronic pain, disability, depression and suicidal ideation. Although there are ideas for managing, please only read on if you feel strong enough. If…
The COPE Campaign
Creative Coping Strategies has changed!
The COPE Campaign stands for Creativity Opposing Painful Existence, but still encourages and promotes the benefits of being creative to support mental wellbeing.
If you’re looking for a distraction from pain, whether it’s physical or mental, then this page has many ideas, along with my Stress Hacks page.
Drawing
As a digital artist is use a variety of styles and systems. All the pictures on this site have been drawn by me, whether good or bad!
Take a look at my gallery to see more work!
Writing
I write every day and submit my work to competitions and lit mags. I focus mainly on mental illness fiction and also write blog posts on my own mental ill health, struggles and thoughts.
Anything that goes on a long list, shortlist or wins is added to my blog. Take a look here!
Get in Touch
I’d love to hear from you! If you’d like to comment on my work you can use the ‘comment’ function on the post.
If you have any questions or queries you can reach me at
Steph on Social Media
TikTok
My TikTok account is @StephDraws401, where you’ll see walkthroughs of all my latest art projects! Here are some examples.
My Instagram account is @StephDraws40, where I post regular updates on artwork and articles I’ve published.
Steph Writes and Illustrates
“A kinder, more thoughtful world is a place we all deserve to live”
Email me: steph@creativesteph.co.uk
Creative Steph 