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Local Update, 4 March 2024
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.
Please note there will be no newsletter for the next 2 weeks due to staff annual leave. The next issue will be on Monday 25 March.
Events and news from the web
The mental health crisis - what is really going on? (online talk from School of Applied Sciences, LSBU), Wednesday 6 March, 2.00 - 4.00pm
Research shows that we are rapidly reaching the point where we will all qualify for at least one psychiatric diagnoses. Consultant clinical psychologist, author and trainer Dr Lucy Johnstone questions the common assumption that increasing numbers of us are suffering from mental health 'disorders' or 'illnesses'. Instead, she argues that our very real pain, confusion and distress is being re-defined in a way that avoids a challenge to the social and political status quo, while many vested interests benefit from the medicalisation of our struggles.
Laughing Fit - a weekly online laughter class for health & happiness (online group session from Jon Bockelmann-Evans), Tuesday 5 March, 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
Managing stress & burnout at work [free webinar] (from Mindspring Mental Health Alliance), Thursday 7 March, 6.00 - 7.00pm
Stress is something we all experience in our personal and professional lives. But when stress is severe or prolonged (or both), it can impact our physical and mental health in major ways. Learn practical tips to manage distress to avoid career burnout and discuss effective ways to cope with a licensed therapist.
Boundary IQ [free webinar] (from Mindspring Mental Health Alliance), Tuesday 5 March, 6.00 - 7.00pm
Creating and maintaining healthy boundaries can be a challenging task. Some people grew up in environments where setting boundaries was not emphasized or valued, resulting in struggles to establish boundaries in adulthood. Fear of conflict, a tendency to prioritize others' approval, or past experiences of invalidation or disrespect can also contribute to difficulties in setting and maintaining boundaries. Discuss the role of boundaries in relationships and learn how to implement healthy boundaries in this one-hour seminar with a licensed therapist.
Supporting your mental health on the pathway to parenthood (online session from National LGBT Partnership), Thursday 7 March, 7.00 - 8.30pm
LGBT Mummies is an organization who provides a global community, guidance, support groups, events, & a safe haven to celebrate LGBTQ+ women & people on the path to motherhood or parenthood. Through their educational arm they also campaign for equity & equality for all LGBTQ+ families, & education & services to healthcare professionals including the NHS, Government & organisations to provide inclusive & safe care.
This session will be discussing the barriers that LGBTQ+ people face on their parenting journey, things to consider, & tools to equip them to manage their mental health throughout & have a positive experience.
Book Supporting your mental health on the pathway to parenthood
Carers at Work - Lived experience of juggling caring demands with work (online session from National LGBT Partnership), Thursday 7 March, 11.30am - 1.00pm
MindOut are hosting an event for LBT+ Women's Health Week 2024, come and join them!
LBT+ women in the sector still seem to juggle traditional caring responsibilities within the home (carer for children, elderly parents) and hold down a job in the sector. Explore the experience of juggling these demands and the impact on LBT+ mental health and get an idea of needs. This will be a supportive space for sharing.
Book Carers at Work - Lived experience of juggling caring demands with work
Smile with chronic illness! Mid-morning session (online peer support drop in from Rogue Debby CIC), Tuesday 5 March, 10.30 - 11.30am
If you're stuck on finding 'smiles' in your life, this sessionn will remind your face how those muscles work again while you help each other live your best life!
Poetry therapy (online session from Nation's Finest), Monday 4 March, 9.30pm
Join this session 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.
‘Advantageous' Art Exhibition: A celebration of age friendly Barnet
Age UK Barnet is launching an 'Advantageous' exhibition at the Arts Depot in North Finchley from March 6th to 23rd.
The exhibition features a variety of art, including paintings, pottery, knitting, and poems, aimed at raising awareness of ageist attitudes and challenging negative stereotypes of older people, particularly those with dementia.
Some paintings will be sold to raise funds for Age UK Barnet.
Podcasts
Podcast: Happier with Gretchen Rubin (from Gretchen Rubin / The Onward Project)
Gretchen Rubin is HAPPIER, and she wants you to be happier too. The #1 bestselling author of The Happiness Project and Better Than Before gets more personal than ever as she brings her practical, manageable advice about happiness and good habits to this lively, thought-provoking podcast.
Meditation Minis Podcast (from Chel Hamilton | Meditation Minis)
Short guided meditations to calm your anxiety, overcome negative thinking, increase your confidence, and more.
Articles
What living with a psychotic disorder feels like, as a mental health professional (from Very Well Mind)
"I’m a licensed mental health professional, but I’ve also been living with schizoaffective disorder bipolar type for more than a decade. Schizoaffective disorder is basically like bipolar disorder’s and schizophrenia’s greatest hits—I experience both mood disorder symptoms (like depression and mania) and psychotic symptoms (like hallucinations and delusions).
Psychotic disorders can be scary, both for those experiencing them and their loved ones. Here, I’ll break down my positive and negative symptoms and explain what it’s been like for me to deal with psychosis."
Read What living with a psychotic disorder feels like, as a mental health professional
Reading is good for your health – and starting early boosts cognition, memory and emotional regulation for life (from Irish Independent)
Reading is an activity that can boost brain function, encourage creativity and improve the wellbeing of book fans of all ages
Relaxing and calming exercises (from Mind)
If you are feeling anxious, scared or panicked there are many things you can do to help yourself cope. A common – and natural – response to anxiety is to avoid what triggers your fear, so taking any action might make you feel more anxious at first. It can be difficult, but facing up to how anxiety makes you feel can be the first step in breaking the cycle of fear and insecurity. Here are some simple exercises you can try that might calm you down.
Making cities mental health friendly for adolescents and young adults (from Nature)
Shaping the aspects of urban life that influence youth mental health could have an enormous impact on adolescent well-being and adult trajectories
Read Making cities mental health friendly for adolescents and young adults
Bryony Gordon: 'Recovering from food addiction is like walking a tiger' (from the BBC)
Journalist and author Bryony Gordon is an open book when it comes to talking about mental health, having lived with OCD, alcoholism, binge eating disorder and drug addiction. But being a woman and navigating health inequality is one challenge she hasn't yet been able to overcome.
Read Bryony Gordon: 'Recovering from food addiction is like walking a tiger'
Regular Events on the Web
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.
International wellbeing support group (From Rain on Me), Monday 4 March, 5.30pm
A free, international safe space to vent and grow with people who understand and accept you.
Regular Events in Barnet
Barnet Depression Alliance Peer Support Group
A local self-help group for people suffering from depression or depression with anxiety.
Meets twice a month – on a Tuesday evening in North Finchley and on a Monday evening online via Zoom. The group also runs social events throughout the year.
Address: North Finchley
Phone: 0754 118 7907
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.barnetdepressionalliance.org/
For more details of times and venue please telephone or email
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+.
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 [email protected] or call 0208 906 7506.
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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