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Local Update, 7 October 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 28 October.
Inclusion Barnet news and events
Have you signed up to our Campaign for Disablity Justice? Every sign up helps. Campaign for Disability Justice
A&E waiting for Mental Health support - your story matters
We often get requests from independent journalists seeking lived experience stories for various media outlets. The Lead, an "an editorially independent politics and culture magazine with a campaigning heart" is seeking stories from people who have experienced long waits for mental health support in A&E departments. If you're interested and feel comfortable doing so, then please get in contact directly with them at [email protected]. They promise not to publish anything without your consent.
Events and news from the web
The power of no: prioritising your mental health at work (online workshop from Renew Counselling and Training), Thursday 10 October, 12.00 - 1.00pm
This online event will give you the tools you need to set healthy boundaries, say no assertively, and prevent burnout.
Book The power of no: prioritising your mental health at work
Supporting mental health through nutrition free online webinar (from My Health Way and Jen McDiarmid), Thursday 10 October, 12.30 - 1.15pm
The role of nutrition is a key pillar when it comes to supporting all elements of health, including mental health. This webinar will discuss the foods that can help to lift our mood and reduce levels of internal stress which are crucial in supporting mental health.
Book Supporting mental health through nutrition free online webinar
Hub Connections (in person event on World Mental Health Day from Barnet Wellbeing Service), Thursday 10 October, 11.00am - 2.00pm, The Meritage Centre, Church End, London NW4 4JT
There will be:
Personal stories and shared experiences from individuals who have lived through mental health challenges
Informative stalls from our partner organisations
A variety of engaging wellbeing activities
A complimentary lunch to enjoy while networking and connecting with others
This is a fantastic opportunity to explore the services available in the community and learn more about mental health support.
Discrimination, fear, and mental health in LGBTQ+ communities (webinar from Mindspring Mental Health Alliance), Tuesday 8 October, 6.00 - 7.00pm
Learn how to find supportive professionals, ways of coping, and how to be a true ally in this one-hour seminar with a licensed therapist.
Book Discrimination, fear, and mental health in LGBTQ+ communities
Learning on the job: the history of mental health care (online talk from Royal College of Nursing Library and Museum), Thursday 10 October, 5.30 - 7.00pm
Before 1891, nursing staff in psychiatric hospitals received no formal training and were expected to learn on the job. Claire Chatterton explores the history of “asylum attendants”, and explains how registered nurses and staff without formal training continued to work alongside each other well into the twentieth century.
Wellness at work: simple practices for a calmer mind (online event from Vicky Kelly), Wednesday 9 October, 12.30 - 1.30pm
A free webinar designed to introduce you to practical mindfulness and grounding techniques that can be seamlessly integrated into your workday.
Got a relevant event to share in this newsletter?
Let us know by emailing the details to [email protected]
Podcasts
Podcast: Navigating grief on the way to healing and recovery (from Radio Milwaukee)
Grief and recovery are not about moving on, but about learning to carry our losses with us in a way that honors both the past and the present.
Listen to Podcast: Navigating grief on the way to healing and recovery
Will AI make a good companion? – podcast (from the Guardian)
AI could give us new ways to tackle difficult problems, from young people’s mental health issues to isolation in care homes. It also raises challenging questions about the increasing role of tech in our personal lives.
Articles
3 unexpected benefits of good posture on mental health, by a psychologist (from Forbes)
We all know poor posture is bad for our health, but few realize just how deeply it impacts our daily lives.
Read 3 unexpected benefits of good posture on mental health, by a psychologist
Specially designed video games may benefit mental health of children and teenagers (from Hopkins Medicine)
Johns Hopkins Children’s Center researchers reviewed studies of video games designed as mental health interventions for anxiety, depression and ADHD
Read Specially designed video games may benefit mental health of children and teenagers
Nature as a mental health resource (from Stockholm University)
In his doctoral thesis, Yannick Klein has investigated the relationship between nature exposure and mental health in adults in Sweden, both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. His studies shows that both active and passive exposure to nature have positive effects on mental health.
One Good Thing: why it’s well worth consciously creating opportunities for joy (from Stylist)
Life can be super stressful at times, so ignoring this fact and trying to force yourself to be happy will simply not work. Research shows that negative emotions outweigh positive ones at a ratio of 3:1 so making a conscious effort to increase our positive experiences, being kinder to yourself and finding joy during your day goes some way to at least maintain or hopefully tip the happiness balance.
Read One Good Thing: why it’s well worth consciously creating opportunities for joy
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.
Music To remember (online event from Music Heals Minds), Tuesday 8 October, 7.00pm
These weekly virtual recitals with Nandani “Nani” Sinha and guests stimulate remembrance and gently invite reflection through familiar and bellowed songs.
International wellbeing support group (From Rain on Me), Monday 21 October, 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+.
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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