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Local Update, 11 December 2023
Barnet Voice for Mental Health
020 3475 1314
[email protected]
Welcome to our weekly newsletter about mental health services and support available in Barnet and beyond. Also bringing you updates on Inclusion Barnet mental health news. Produced by Ed Peston, Communications Assistant.
Events and news from the web
Mental health in tech webinar (From MoodConnect), Friday 15 December, 8.00 - 10.00pm
An engaging online webinar focused on three mental health tech companies: MoodConnect, Beme.ai, and FirstWorkapp. This event aims to raise awareness about the challenges faced by individuals and their families and provide valuable insights on maintaining well-being in this fast-paced world.
Have your say on mental health services (From Gaddum, online discussion), Tuesday 12 December, 10.30 - 11.30am
Are you Black, Asian, Arab or from another Ethnic Minority background? Have you been treated in hospital for your mental health?
Gaddum would love you to join them for a discussion on improving mental health services and they want to ask the experts - you.
Update from the Barnet Primary Care Group (PCG) regarding your GP surgery
In the Spring, the PCG asked Barnet residents to complete Mini Poll 1 regarding how aware they were of the annual IPSOS GP Survey https://www.gp-patient.co.uk/ which asks patients to rate their own surgery.
The PCG Mini Poll 1 found out that whilst 90% of residents said they were interested in knowing their surgery’s rating, only 17% knew of the Survey’s existence and only 11% knew how their surgery rated in relation to others in their area.
Mini Poll 2, still totally anonymous, extends their awareness raising exercise through face-to-face interviews and electronic polls. Mini Poll 2 includes 2 different questions from the first Poll. They are looking for all Barnet residents to answer this poll, particularly If you answered the first Poll!
Your response will allow them to evaluate the difference our campaign has made:
Mini Poll (2) How is your GP Surgery Doing?
(ONLY for Barnet residents or patients with a GP Practice in Barnet borough) See E version here, https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/TWLMXBW.
These results will be fed back to IPSOS as Barnet’s patient voice. This continues your opportunity to be part of positive change!
Food and mood: nutrition for mental health webinar (from Transforming tides counselling and dietitian Evelena Beaton), Tuesday 12 December, 4.15 - 5.00pm
A free lunch and learn on the connection between your mental health and the food you eat and how food can support anxiety management
Understanding compassion fatigue and burnout [free webinar] (From Mindspring Mental Health Alliance), Tuesday 12 December, 6.00 - 7.00pm
Does compassion cause suffering? When does it go too far and how can caregivers protect their own wellbeing? Learn the warning signs, who is at risk, and how to restore your emotional energy with a licensed therapist.
Book Understanding compassion fatigue and burnout [free webinar]
Online event: morning meditation (from Inner Space Edinburgh), weekly on Wednesdays at 8.00am
Want to start your day with a calm clear mind? Join this online meditation session to restore your positivity, energy and wellbeing from wherever you are.
Sanctuary in Barnet (from Mind in Enfield and Barnet)
Sanctuary in Barnet is a short-term crisis intervention and prevention service. They are open every day of the year, 4:30pm-10pm weekdays and 12-6pm weekends. They act as an A&E and Emergency services alternative, providing support to individuals in the Barnet Borough aged 18+.
Thrive London resources for connecting with nature
Easy access to quality green space has become an essential need for urban dwellers. But you don’t have to head for the hills. London’s parks and green spaces are free and open to everyone regardless of who you are or where you live. In fact, research from the Mental Health Foundation showed that during the pandemic going for walks outside was one of our top coping strategies and 45% of us reported being in green spaces had been vital for our mental health.
More information on Thrive London resources for connecting with nature
Podcasts
Psychiatry alone can’t heal you completely (From Hear me out)
Mental health is on a lot of minds as we enter the holiday season — a time when we know many people struggle.
What does it means to treat mental illness… and what should it mean, if we want that treatment to be effective, long-lasting, and sensitive?
Real health with Karl Henry (From Irish Independent)
Karl Henry brings an insightful weekly podcast to cut through the nonsense about health Dos and Don’ts.
Articles
The way to better mental health may go through your stomach (From University of Virginia)
University of Virginia School of Medicine researchers have discovered how Lactobacillus, a bacterium found in fermented foods and yogurt, helps the body manage stress and may help prevent depression and anxiety.
Read The way to better mental health may go through your stomach
Exercise ‘treats mental health’ (From Health Club Management)
Regular physical activity has been linked to a 43 per cent reduction in mental health symptoms, such as depression and anxiety, a study from Australia shows
Three ways people can boost their mental health every day (From Oakdale Leader)
A 2021 study from the United Kingdom-based Mental Health Foundation published in the American Journal of Health Promotion found 29 strategies people can employ to protect their mental health. A rundown of the 29 strategies can be found at mentalhealth.org.uk, but the following are three recommendations that anyone can apply in their daily lives.
Read Three ways people can boost their mental health every day
Developing a positive outcome from negative emotions (From Medical Xpress)
While unpleasant feelings are common during the holidays—and other times of the year—how you respond to those emotions can have an even bigger impact on your overall psychological health, according to a study published in summer 2023 in the journal Emotion and co-authored by Willroth.
Can writing a diary protect your mental health? (From the BBC)
In the modern world - often seen as overly fast-paced and digital - could something as simple as keeping a handwritten diary help clear our heads?
Julia Samuel, a psychotherapist and author of Grief Works, believes so.
Regular Events on the Web
Laughing fit - a weekly online laughter class for health & happiness (From Jon Bockelmann-Evans), Tuesday 12 December, 8.00 - 8.30pm
A 30-minute laughter class filled with joy to boost your physical, mental and emotional health and leave you feeling great!
Book Laughing fit - a weekly online laughter class for health & happiness
Poetry therapy (From Nation's Finest), Monday 11 December, 9.30 - 10.30pm
Join this class and de-stress with poetry! You will learn the structure of micro poems such as American Sentence, Haiku, and Sijo. Examples included for each form. Second half of class will be used for writing, sharing your work is optional.
Mindly weekly - practical tips on mental wellbeing & general anxiety (From Step8up Mindly), Tuesday 12 December, 12.30 - 1.00pm
Join this session each week to know how easy it is to manage day to day mental wellbeing, especially general anxiety, using methods which are practical and easy.
Book Mindly weekly - practical tips on mental wellbeing & general anxiety
Online wellbeing workshops from Mid West Aries
Offering a range of free courses online via Zoom. Anyone over the age of 18 with an interest in mental health and well-being can sign up for the courses.
Online ADHD support group (From Tim Kiver Foundation), Tuesday 12 December, 7.30 - 9.00pm
A safe place for anyone interested in ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) in ANY way to share experiences and learn more about:
• What ADHD is
• How ADHD affects peoples every day life
• Ways to manage ADHD symptoms
• How to seek medical help for ADHD
• The Facts and Fiction that surround ADHD
International wellbeing support group (From Rain on Me), Monday 18 December, 5.30pm
A free, international safe space to vent and grow with people who understand and accept you.
Regular Events in Barnet
Mental health drop-in sessions (From Barnet Health Champions)
Taking place from 2.30 - 4.30pm at Chipping Barnet Library on Wednesday 22 November and then fortnightly.
Also at Colindale Library, 2.30 - 4.30pm on Wednesday 29 November and then fortnightly.
A friendly face to listen, support and signpost to local services as well as providing information.
Community wellbeing support (From Meridian Wellbeing, Mind Enfield and Barnet and Colindale Communities Trust)
Providing mental health and wellbeing support at the heart of the community.
Feeling worried about life or struggling?
Anxious?
Just need someone to talk to confidentially?
The cafe will provide:
Day time and evening access
One to one support from trained mental health wellbeing empowerment workers
Group workshops and training
Emotional health checks and personal action and safety plans
A safe space to be and crisis support out of hours
Help to build your resilience and self-management
Drop into the old library, every Thursday:
12pm - 5pm - emotional health check drop in
3pm - 5pm - crisis and well-being support drop-in
5pm - 8.pm - appointment-based crisis and well-being support
Helpline for immediate emotional support and enquiries 020 8906 7503.
For more information please drop into the Old Library on the Concourse, NW9 5XA or call Colindale Communities Trust (CCT) on 020 8200 3014
Andy's Man Club in Barnet, Every Monday at the Meritage Centre, 7.00 - 9.00pm
Andy's Man Club run talking groups for men who have either been through a storm, are currently going through a storm, have a storm brewing in life or just want to meet a good group of people with the aim of improving one another. No referral, no registration and no charge. Even the brew and biscuits are free!
The Meritage Centre,
Church End,
London
NW4 4JT
Meridian Wellbeing in Barnet
A range of events and activities in Barnet and online including Barnet Wellbeing Hub, Barnet IAPT, Wellbeing Cafe, Wellbeing Workshops, Chinese Wellbeing Services, Supportive Online Communities
More information about Meridian Wellbeing events and activities
Barnet Carers
Barnet Carers provides support and information for unpaid, informal, carers across the London Borough of Barnet. Includes yoga, meditation and mindfulness.
Building Friendship
Building Friendship is a free weekly drop in every Friday for those with mental health difficulties.
Meet at East Barnet Baptist Church hall, EN4 8PS. Come along for a cup of coffee and a friendly chat between 10am and 12noon.
For more information email: [email protected]. Or leave a message with your name and contact number on 020 8449 5320.
Weekly online social group from Mind in Enfield and Barnet, Fridays from 6.00 - 7.00pm
This group takes place by Zoom, and the session is broken up into a few casual activities such as:
Catch up about each other’s week
Play a quiz where everybody provides 3 questions
Share and discuss TV, movies and news that has inspired us this week
If you would like to attend, please email Sam Brown at [email protected]
Mind and Mood Support Group
We celebrated our eighth successful year on 4th January 2023 and have a group of regular attendees (usually around 6, but this may vary). The first half of the meeting our Guest Speaker speaks (on the day we have one) for approx. 20 mins, following this members are free to ask questions. Then half-way through, about 6.45 we have a comfort break with tea, coffee and biscuits. The second half, we all share our experiences of where we are since the last meeting.
The group is facilitated by Sandra Turner and Peter Sartori, both with considerable experience of the mental health system.
Since the Pandemic. Our group has gone through necessary changes. One week our group meets via Zoom from 6-7.15pm. Alternate wks. we meet, in person at 55 Christchurch Avenue 6-7.30pm. No-one is allowed to join our meetings without prior arrangement.
If there is anything else you wish to know, please do not hesitate to contact:
Peter Sartori e: mailto:[email protected] m: 07947 713306 Sandra Turner e: [email protected]
If you wish to subscribe to our monthly “Creativity & Wellbeing Newsletter” please email Sandra with “Subscribe to Newsletter” in the subject of your email.
About Inclusion Barnet
We are a Peer-Led Deaf and Disabled People’s Organisation (DDPO).
Nearly all of our directors and staff have lived experience of disability, including mental health issues and/or long-term health conditions.
We believe that learning to use our lived experience for social change is a skill. We have become experts in harnessing the lived experience of our staff, members, volunteers and the people who use our services to design and deliver higher quality, more person-centred services.
Other services run by Inclusion Barnet that you might be interested in are:
Benefits Advice Service (supporting disabled people in Barnet to access the benefits they are entitled to).
Touchpoint (supports people experiencing any form of disability in Barnet to access the services and resources they need).
Healthwatch Barnet (an independent, statutory organisation dedicated to improving health and social care services in Barnet).
For more information about the wider range of other work we do please visit our website www.inclusionbarnet.org.uk
Useful links for mental health and wellbeing
Click on the title to go to the individual websites.
LOCAL
- Mind in Barnet - counselling
- Mind in Barnet Sanctuary - find calm, make space, move forward
- Barnet Wellbeing Service
- BEH-MHT* crisis helpline 0800 151 0023 24/7, 365 days a year.
(*BEH-MHT = Barnet, Enfield Haringay - Mental Health Trust)
LONDON & NATIONAL
- The Help Hub - free online emotional support sessions
- Good Thinking - free online Mental Wellbeing for London
- Kooth - free, safe and anonymous online support for young people
- Qwell - free online safe and confidential space to share & support
Shout - free, 24/7 text messaging support - text SHOUT to 85258 - Samaritans - free phone & email support in a crisis
- Useful links from Sussex University - lots of useful links to MH resources
Independent Living Centre, c/o Barnet & Southgate College,
7 Bristol Avenue, Colindale, London NW9 4BR
Inclusion Barnet is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation.
Registered Charity Number: 1158632
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