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Local Update, 8 January 2024

Barnet Voice for Mental Health [[link removed]]

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.

Inclusion Barnet news and events Voter photo ID changes

This year the laws have changed around voting in UK parliamentary elections and by-elections, local elections, neighbourhood planning elections, local authority referendums and the elections for Mayor of London and the London Assembly.

The biggest change to the way we vote is the requirement to show an accepted form of Voter Photo ID to vote in person.

Read Voter photo ID changes [[link removed]]

Events and news from the web Designing for digital inclusion in healthcare (online seminar series from Good Things Foundation), Tuesday 23 - Thursday 25 January, 12.30pm

A three part seminar series, where you will hear from a range of VCSE Health and Wellbeing Alliance members, sharing learnings, case studies and examples of best practice for designing for digital inclusion in healthcare.

Book Designing for digital inclusion in healthcare [[link removed]]

Make it OK to talk about mental health and illnesses (online presentation from HealthPartners), Wednesday 10 January, 6.00 - 7.00pm

Learn more about mental health and illness stigma and how to reduce it, what to say and what not to say, and how to find resources.

Book Make it OK to talk about mental health and illnesses [[link removed]]

Self-care and wellbeing: a hands-on approach for better health (webinar from Mindspring Mental Health Alliance), Tuesday 9 January, 6.00 - 7.00pm

It’s normal to experience anxiety, fear, anger, and grief during times of uncertainty. It can leave us feeling helpless and discouraged, and affects our physical and mental health in major ways. Now, more than ever, it’s important to recognize these feelings and allow time to recharge – but too often we feel guilty for taking time to meet our basic needs. Explore what self-care is, why it’s so important, and learn techniques for incorporating self-care into your daily life with a licensed therapist.

Book Self-care and wellbeing: a hands-on approach for better health [[link removed]]

Understanding schizoaffective disorder [free webinar] (from Mindspring Mental Health Alliance), Thursday 11 January, 6.00 - 7.00pm

Schizoaffective disorder is a complicated illness that is often confused with other disorders. Explore the diagnostic criteria, signs, and symptoms that differentiate schizoaffective disorder from other illnesses. This one-hour seminar includes information on causation, risk factors, treatment options, and ways to cope if you or a loved one have been diagnosed.

Book Understanding schizoaffective disorder [[link removed]]

Zero Suicide Alliance Lunch and Learn (from Barnet Wellbeing Service) Wednesday 7th February 2024 12.30 - 13.30pm online event

Barnet Wellbeing Service is holding a free lunch and learn session in partnership with Barnet Public Health. They will deliver the Zero Suicide Alliance training, where you will learn how to start a life saving conversation with someone considering suicide/

Registration link [[link removed]]

Working together to prevent suicide.

Podcasts The anxious truth - a panic, anxiety, and mental health podcast (from The anxious truth)

Struggling with panic attacks, agoraphobia, or other anxiety problems? The Anxious Truth will educate you, empower you, encourage you, and inspire you to get your life back!

Listen to The anxious truth - a panic, anxiety, and mental health podcast [[link removed]]

Podcast: Pod therapy (from PodTherapy)

Balanced with equal parts irreverant humor and compassionate sincerity, Pod Therapy answers real people's questions about life, love, mental health, health and everything else every week.

Listen to Podcast: Pod therapy [[link removed]]

Articles Staying positive while loving an unhappy partner (from Psychology Today)

How to counteract the emotional contagion of negativity

Read Staying positive while loving an unhappy partner [[link removed]]

'I chose to spend Christmas alone for 6 years and, honestly, I loved it' (from Women's Health)

WH's fitness writer on why answering to no one is the ultimate Christmas gift to herself

Read 'I chose to spend Christmas alone for 6 years and, honestly, I loved it' [[link removed]]

Why you need “awe” in your life and 3 ways to get more of it (from Psychology Today)

Research finds that experiences of vastness and transcendence benefit the soul.

Read Why you need “awe” in your life and 3 ways to get more of it [[link removed]]

'Loneliest sheep' fronts mental health campaign (from the BBC)

A ewe dubbed "Britain's loneliest sheep" before she was rescued from a remote cave has featured in a festive mental health awareness campaign.

Read 'Loneliest sheep' fronts mental health campaign [[link removed]]

Not just a dream: finding the mental health community I’d been longing for (from Mad in America)

'I dreamed of a place where healers weren’t afraid of intense states like madness. They embraced it; maybe they’d been through it themselves.'

Read Not just a dream: finding the mental health community I’d been longing for [[link removed]]

Regular Events on the Web Poetry therapy (From Nation's Finest), Monday 8 January, 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.

Book Poetry therapy [[link removed]]

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.

Book Online wellbeing workshops from Mid West Aries [[link removed]]

Online ADHD support group (From Tim Kiver Foundation), Tuesday 9 January, 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

Book Online ADHD support group [[link removed]]

International wellbeing support group (From Rain on Me), Monday 8 January, 5.30pm

A free, international safe space to vent and grow with people who understand and accept you.

Book International wellbeing support group [[link removed]]

Regular Events in Barnet 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+.

More information on Sanctuary in Barnet [[link removed]]

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

Visit the Andy's Man Club Website [[link removed]]

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 [[link removed]]

Barnet Carers

Barnet Carers provides support and information for unpaid, informal, carers across the London Borough of Barnet. Includes yoga, meditation and mindfulness.

Read about and book Barnet Carers events [[link removed]]

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.

Do you feel isolated or lonely? Come along to Building Friendship. Free. remaining info repeats in main article." width="503" src=" 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

[[link removed]]

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 [[link removed]] (supporting disabled people in Barnet to access the benefits they are entitled to).

Touchpoint [[link removed]] (supports people experiencing any form of disability in Barnet to access the services and resources they need).

Healthwatch Barnet [[link removed]] (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 [[link removed]]

Useful links for mental health and wellbeing

Click on the title to go to the individual websites.

LOCAL

Mind in Barnet [[link removed]] - counselling Mind in Barnet Sanctuary [[link removed]] - find calm, make space, move forward Barnet Wellbeing Service [[link removed]]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 [[link removed]] - free online emotional support sessions Good Thinking [[link removed]] - free online Mental Wellbeing for London Kooth [[link removed]] - free, safe and anonymous online support for young people Qwell [[link removed]] - free online safe and confidential space to share & support

Shout [[link removed]]- free, 24/7 text messaging support - text SHOUT to 85258 Samaritans [[link removed]] - free phone & email support in a crisis Useful links from Sussex University [[link removed]] - 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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