Steven’s Soundtrack to Independence

Steven's History

Steven is a young man with a diagnosis of schizophrenia and a mild learning difficulty. He has a long history of mental health challenges, including persistent delusional beliefs, low self-esteem, and difficulties with motivation and daily living. Steven also has a significant history of substance misuse - patterns that emerged during his teenage years, especially after the breakdown of his relationship with his father. He has previously received treatment in hospital settings and remained under a Community Treatment Order (CTO) to support his stability, especially with regards to medication adherence.

Steven's Admission

Steven joined Aspire in 2019, initially moving into one of our residential homes. He came to the service with a clear desire to build a more independent life, improve his mental health, and develop himself personally and creatively.

Steven expressed a strong interest in music, especially writing and performing rap. While some of his beliefs around music fame and recognition were delusional, staff were able to support Steven in engaging with this interest in a positive and therapeutic way — even helping him produce some of his own tracks to CD.

After some time, Steven moved into Dovecote, another Aspire residential setting, where he focused on preparing for the transition to supported living.

Care and Progress

With dedicated one-to-one support, Steven gradually made progress in managing his mental health, building his life skills, and working on his personal goals. These included:

• Attending music college

• Learning to budget and manage his finances monthly

• Improving self-care and room maintenance

• Focusing on physical health through gym sessions, daily walks, and improved nutrition
  

Though Steven continues to experience daily symptoms, including low motivation and delusional thinking, he has shown insight into some of these experiences and is now more open to discussing them. Staff have noted that, even when he struggles, Steven remains willing to engage and accept guidance.

Steven Today

In 2024, Steven took the next step and moved into Supported Living, a huge milestone that reflected the work he put in over several years.

Supported by a tailored care plan, Steven continues to work on his goals — with particular focus on maintaining his mental and physical wellbeing, managing daily routines, and nurturing his passion for music in a healthy and fulfilling way.

Everyone at Aspire is proud of how far Steven has come and looks forward to supporting him as he continues to grow in independence and confidence.