Introduction
  The vision for S.T.E.E.R. began when a group of people came together in August 1998 to discuss mental health in the Derry City area. From these discussions it was agreed to establish an organisation constituted from people with primary and secondary experiences of mental health difficulties. This unique and innovative partnership approach would lead to a truly independent organisation to promote empowerment in the mental health environment. It was decided that there would be five areas of interest that the organisation would aim to provide services.

These would be in support, training, education, employment and research. S.T.E.E.R. will pioneer new approaches in the provision of services. We will also provide a platform for the needs, views and opinions of people with primary and secondary experiences to be heard by the policy makers and mental health service providers.

This will be achieved by our philosophy of a partnership approach. We further believe that S.T.E.E.R. brings a human touch to issues within the mental health environment. S.T.E.E.R. recognises the person first and then their mental health difficulties.

These would be:

-Support
The organisation will provide a forum for people with mental health difficulties to share their experiences and feelings in a confidential environment. It will achieve this by establishing support groups in the Derry City area for those with primary experience & their families\children. These support groups will enable similar thinking people to dome together and talk openly about their Mental Health difficulties.

-Training
The organisation will provide training for its Volunteers through a venues such as local colleges and work placements organised with other Voluntary/Statutory sector organisations through the 'New Deal' initiative. It is envisaged that the organisation will design tailor made' training programmes for each Volunteer and each volunteer will be give input to the design process and construction.

- Education
The organisation will seek to address the stigmatisation of people who experience mental health difficulties. It will achieve this by developing educational packages aimed at disintegrating 'them' and 'us' mentality.

- Employment
The organisation will seek to become an employer and to generate positions of employment which will be open to people with mental health difficulties. The organisation will achieve this by working with 'New Deal' initiative and job share initiative.

-Research
The organisation will undertake research projects which will have a significant impact on the delivery of mental health services in the Derry area. The research will involve the active participation of non-academic individuals who have primary and secondary experience of mental ill health.

S.T.E.E.R will pioneer new approaches in provision of services. We will also provide a platform for the needs, views and opinions of people with primary and secondary experiences to be heard by the policy makers and mental health service providers.

This will be achieved by a philosophy of a partnership approach. We further believe that S.T.E.E.R brings a human touch to issues within the mental health environment. S.T.E.E.R recognises the person first and then thier mental health difficulties.

Within this Website, we have provided an overview of our current mental health services available within the Northwest of Ireland and these services may be accessed throught a health care professional referral or a Voluntary sector organisation referral. However, if an individual requires access to our Closed Support groups or our Advocacy service the S.T.E.E.R. does accept clients making self-referrals directly to our staff.