Stephanie Bashford
Speaker Topics
Mental Health, Motivation & Performance
Locations Covered
Anywhere
Fees
£150 - £500
Availability
Short Notice
Profile Bio
Stephanie Bashford
Founder & Director | Discussing Mental Health Ltd
London, UK
Professional Overview
Stephanie Bashford is a mental health advocate, social entrepreneur, and trauma survivor dedicated to reshaping how mental health support is delivered across the UK. She is the founder and director of Discussing Mental Health Ltd, a London-based organisation that provides trauma-informed, peer-led mental health education, support, and advocacy.
The company represents the next evolution of a tried-and-tested Community Interest Company (CIC) model originally piloted in Birmingham, where Stephanie and her team developed innovative, holistic mental health programs tailored to meet the needs of marginalised communities. Transitioning from a CIC to a for-profit company allowed Stephanie to expand the organisation’s reach and sustainability, while continuing to centre lived experience at the heart of all initiatives.
Stephanie’s work is deeply informed by her personal journey through complex trauma, emotional abuse, and mental health crises, including multiple suicide attempts. Her lived experience drives her commitment to dismantling stigma, exposing systemic failures, and creating safe, inclusive spaces where survivors feel heard, valued, and empowered.
Key Achievements
Founder and visionary leader of Discussing Mental Health Ltd: Developed and launched a pioneering organisation built on peer-led, trauma-informed frameworks that challenge conventional mental health support models.
Successful transition from CIC to Ltd company: Led organisational transformation to scale services, introduce innovative business models, and secure sustainable partnerships without compromising core values of lived experience and community focus.
Program development and partnership building: Collaborated with Birmingham leisure facilities, universities, and community groups to design and implement integrated mental health and wellbeing programs that blend talking therapies with physical activity, education, and peer support.
Public speaking and advocacy: Established herself as a powerful voice in mental health, regularly invited to speak at conferences, workshops, and panel discussions. Her talks emphasize resilience, trauma-informed leadership, and the essential role of lived experience in shaping policy and practice.
Mental health innovation in education: Led initiatives to embed mental health awareness and trauma-sensitive approaches into educational settings, working closely with students and sector leaders to foster environments where mental wellbeing is prioritised and stigma is challenged.
Areas of Expertise
Trauma-informed mental health support and practice
Peer-led community interventions and advocacy
Organisational development and social entrepreneurship
Mental health policy influence and sector collaboration
Public speaking, storytelling, and lived experience leadership
Speaker Profile
Stephanie’s presentations are known for their raw honesty, emotional depth, and practical insights. She skilfully combines her personal story with evidence-based approaches to provide audiences with:
An authentic understanding of the lived realities of trauma and mental illness
Practical strategies for embedding trauma-informed principles in mental health support systems
Insights on how to move beyond tokenistic inclusion to genuine leadership by marginalised voices
Inspiration to empower individuals and organisations to rethink mental health frameworks with compassion and innovation
Contact and Further Information
Website: www.discussingmentalhealth.com
LinkedIn: Stephanie Bashford
Talk Description
Stephanie Bashford
Talk Title:
"From Surviving to Shaping Systems: Reimagining Mental Health Through Lived Experience"
Talk Description:
In this powerful and deeply personal keynote, Stephanie Bashford — mental health advocate, social entrepreneur, and founder of Discussing Mental Health Ltd — shares her journey from surviving complex trauma to becoming a leader in reshaping how mental health support is delivered across the UK.
Drawing from her own lived experiences with emotional abuse, mental health crises, and systemic gaps in care, Stephanie explores what it truly means to build trauma-informed, peer-led frameworks that are not only compassionate, but transformative. With raw honesty and practical insight, she challenges traditional models of mental health support and advocates for systems that centre the voices of those most impacted.
Attendees will walk away with:
A deeper understanding of the impact of trauma and the importance of safe, inclusive spaces for healing
Evidence-based strategies for implementing trauma-informed, peer-led practices in community, education, or organisational settings
Real-world examples of how lived experience leadership can dismantle stigma and drive sustainable mental health innovation
Tools to move beyond tokenism and foster authentic inclusion of marginalised voices in shaping policy and practice
Stephanie’s talk is ideal for mental health professionals, educators, policymakers, community leaders, and anyone seeking to create meaningful, human-centred change in how we approach mental wellbeing.
Other Talks
Beyond Awareness: Embedding Trauma-Informed Practice Where It Matters Most
Full Talk Description:
Awareness is only the beginning. In a world where trauma is more common than we think, from adverse childhood experiences to systemic oppression and collective crises, simply “knowing about trauma” is no longer enough.
In this compelling and practical keynote, mental health advocate and social entrepreneur Stephanie Bashford challenges audiences to move beyond surface-level awareness and take meaningful action. Drawing on her lived experience as a survivor of complex trauma, as well as her leadership at Discussing Mental Health Ltd, Stephanie explores what it truly takes to embed trauma-informed principles in the spaces where people work, learn, heal, and connect.
This talk bridges the gap between intention and implementation, offering real-life case studies, honest storytelling, and actionable guidance on creating environments that are safe, compassionate, and healing-centred.
Whether you're an educator trying to support students, a manager navigating workplace wellbeing, or a community leader building inclusive spaces, Stephanie helps audiences ask:
Are we being trauma-informed… or just trauma-aware?
Key Takeaways:
The Reality of Trauma: Understand how trauma shows up in behaviour, relationships, and systems — even when it's not visible.
5 Core Principles of Trauma-Informed Practice: Learn the foundational values (safety, trust, choice, collaboration, empowerment) and what they actually look like in practice.
Red Flags in “Trauma-Talk” Spaces: Recognise when initiatives are performative or retraumatising — and how to course-correct with authenticity.
Small Shifts, Big Impact: Discover practical, low-cost changes you can make immediately in your organisation, classroom, or community.
Why Lived Experience Matters: Explore the critical role of survivor leadership in designing truly responsive, inclusive systems of care.
Who It’s For:
This session is ideal for:
Educators, school leaders, and student support staff
Public sector professionals (social care, housing, youth services)
Community workers and non-profit teams
HR professionals and workplace wellbeing leads
Healthcare and frontline staff
Anyone looking to create safer, more responsive spaces for healing and connection
Why This Talk Matters:
“Trauma-informed” has become a buzzword — but when done right, it’s a powerful framework for equity, compassion, and lasting change. Stephanie brings this concept to life through her uniquely honest and practical approach, informed by both personal healing and systemic innovation.
She doesn’t just talk about trauma, she shows audiences how to work with it, plan around it, and lead through it.
Delivery Formats Available:
Keynote (30–60 minutes)
Interactive Workshop (60–90 minutes with Q&A or breakout activities)
Panel Guest / Fireside Chat (with lived experience or professional panel)
Bespoke Training Add-On (follow-up packages available through Discussing Mental Health Ltd)