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Local Update, 22 April 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.
Inclusion Barnet events and news
Neurodivergence: Being Seen blog
The second blog in our long read series ‘Being Seen’. This time we focus on Neurodivergence.
Tribute to Jenny Hyams from Elsie Lyons – Founder of Barnet Voice for Mental Health
Last week I attended Jenny’s funeral. Most of you reading this probably have never heard of her but she got involved with Barnet Voice for Mental Health in its very early days and once met can’t be forgotten (she has been described as a ‘character’). She did our training course in 1996 and although she never became involved with our active work she was a regular attendee at our monthly Forum meetings. At one of them she presented us with the Barnet User Forum (as we were then known) Theme Song and subsequently performed it at our Annual General Meeting. In the early years our AGMs always ended with people bringing their contributions of poems or songs.
So, why am I paying tribute to Jenny? She encapsulates the enthusiasm of those early days and by doing so I’m also paying tribute to all those who were involved with us at that time, either in our active work or coming along to Forums and expressing their views about services and how they’d like to see them improved. This gave those who sat on committees; or were involved in training professional; or interviewing them for their jobs, a wider range of experience than just their own when trying to influence the improvement of mental health care. I know from feed back from professionals that we did make a difference.
Jenny once said to me she wanted to be remembered at her funeral for her sense of humour – and I’m glad to say she was. Below you will see the theme song she wrote. This may have raised the eyebrows of a few of the mental health professionals who used to come to our AGMs - but thank you Jenny for making the rest of us smile.
Barnet User Forum theme song
(sung to the tune of ‘Oh my darling, oh my darling, oh my darling Clementine’)
Medication, infuriation
Drugs superfluous and strong
During temporary incarceration
Your worst troubles may not last long.
When you’re working in a user group
Forward movement begins to show
Strategies which seemed ungainly
Slowly take some shape and grow.
Advocacy is the ‘in’ word
Speak for those who need your skill
Semi-voluntary outreach workers
Play their part of their own free will.
Working for what we believe in
Professionals are put to shame
When we show them more information
We can all make substantial gain.
Support the Forum
At monthly meetings
Give your energy and time
Change a pattern self-defeating
Work together ‘til you’re feeling fine.
Events and news from the web
The science behind mental illness [free webinar] (from Mindspring Mental Health Alliance), Thursday 25 April, 6.00 - 7.00pm
Diagnosing mental illness isn't like diagnosing other chronic diseases. Are mental health disorders best understood as physical illnesses that affect the brain? Or do these disorders belong in a category all their own? Explore the causes, treatment, and prevention of mental illness and separate myths & facts in this often-misunderstood topic.
NHS 111 service help in a mental health crisis
The NHS 111 service provides support for a mental health crisis by dialling 111 and choosing option 2 or via the website at https://111.nhs.uk/
Free health screenings for over 40s
Check your blood sugar levels, cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and height, weight and body mass index (BMI) at a Community Health Screening; a free service for anyone over the age of 40 who lives, works or studies in Barnet. Healthcare professionals will also provide tailored advice to help you stay well and healthy.
The next session takes place on Thursday 25 April, 10am to 4pm at Underhill Baptist Church, Elton Avenue, Barnet, EN5 2EA
Suicide awareness and prevention training (from Arisa Health, Inc), Wednesday 24 April, 5.30 - 7.00pm
The QPR mission is to reduce suicidal behaviors and save lives by providing innovative, practical and proven suicide prevention training. The signs of crisis are all around us. QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer — the 3 simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide.
You will have to opportunity to learn to:
Recognize the warning signs of suicide
Know how to offer hope
Know how to get help and save a life
Meditation for older adults (free online meditation) (from Online Meditation Events), Wednesday 24 April, 3.30 - 4.30pm
Older and wiser adults have many life experiences to know that stress and pain are not worth holding on to. As a result, they understand the meditation principle of ”Letting Go."" You will quickly feel the benefits of the practice.
Driving for Change Barnet
The Driving for Change Bus is current placed at:
Egerton Gardens car park, opposite Hendon Town Hall, NW4 on
Tuesdays between 19th March and 7th May, 10am - 4pm.
This is an engagement and awareness project that offers:
Oral health care
Nurse (onsite)
Hairdresser
HSBC No fixed Abode Bank account information
CGL - Drug and Alcohol service (Referrals and advice)
Pathways for homeless and vulnerable people
Virgin Media O2 data bank.
Mind in Enfield and Barnet wellbeing workshops and courses from Barnet and Southgate College, Summer 2024
All courses and workshops are FREE, and funded by Barnet & Southgate College and the Barnet Wellbeing Service. They are a mixture of face to face and online via zoom, and are available to adults over 18.
More information on wellbeing workshops and courses from Barnet and Southgate College
Podcasts
Podcast: Mental performance daily with Brian Cain (from Brian Cain)
In this new podcast, listeners get to hear short, daily messages from one of the leading mental performance coaches in the world.
Podcast: Lost patients (from NPR)
Lost Patients is a deeply-reported, six-part docuseries examining the difficulties of treating serious mental illness through the lens of one city's past, present and future.
Articles
Touch can reduce pain, depression and anxiety, say researchers (from the Guardian)
More consensual touch helps ease or buffer against mental and physical complaints, meta-analysis shows
Read Touch can reduce pain, depression and anxiety, say researchers
Dog sitting helping stressed and isolated Bristol students (from the BBC)
University students say dog sitting has "massively boosted" their mental health and wellbeing while living away from home.
Read Dog sitting helping stressed and isolated Bristol students
Southampton man launches video game to help people suffering with mental health (from Yahoo! news)
A Southampton man has launched a video game to help people suffering with their mental health.
Aron Adams, 37, provides fitness and well-being services in Portswood, with a big passion for providing services for mental health, such as mindfulness sessions.
He has now channelled his passion to create a fully playable online game called ‘Mentfittz’ – which is based on dealing with mental health – that launched on Monday, April 1 – turning "negative thoughts into positive action".
Read Southampton man launches video game to help people suffering with mental health
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.
Poetry therapy (online session from Nation's Finest), Monday 22 April, 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. Please note the time above is UK time. The event takes place in the USA and if you book the time listed on your ticket will be USA time.
Music To remember (online event from Music Heals Minds), Tuesday 23 April, 7.00pm
These weekly virtual recitals with Nandani “Nani” Sinha and guests stimulate remembrance and gently invite reflection through familiar and bellowed songs.
Meditation For entrepreneurs (online event from Meditation Ventures) Monday to Friday 10.45am
Every weekday workday, a small, committed group of meditators begins their day relaxed and alert with like-minded innovators creating impact in the world today!
Laughing Fit - a weekly online laughter class for health & happiness (online group session from Jon Bockelmann-Evans), Tuesday 23 April, 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
International wellbeing support group (From Rain on Me), Monday 22 April, 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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