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Local Update, 4 November 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 news and events
If you were eagerly waiting for news on the Work Capability Assessment reforms in last weeks budget, you may have been left confused. Luckily our Campaign for Disability Justice issued a statement to help clear things up. For now, no restrictions on Universal Credit, but we’ll be campaigning hard to ensure Disabled people have a seat at the discussion table as proposals for next year are developed. Read our full statement on the Budget
Events and news from the web
Consultation - increase to social care charges in Barnet
Barnet Council plans to increase some social care charges from January next year. There is an online public consultation about this, which ends on 21 November.
Summary of planned increases
The proposals include the introduction of charges, or an increase in charge, to the following areas:
- A yearly fee for appointeeship services for residents with savings over £3,000
- A weekly fee for assistive technology services for all residents using these services.
- Cost recovery for arranging care for people above the capital/savings threshold: A yearly £2,000 fee for residents who have their care arranged by the council and pay for it themselves.
- Increasing the weekly fee for respite care services to £250.
More information about the consultation: Adult Social Care fees and charges consultation | Engage Barnet
Have your say
The consultation is split into four separate surveys, one for each proposal. Use the links below to respond to as many as you wish:
- Appointeeship services
- Assistive technology services
- Cost recovery for arranging care for people above the capital/savings threshold
- Respite care services
Email [email protected] if you require a paper questionnaire or other format.
Understanding Dissociative Disorders (webinar from Mindspring Mental Health Alliance), Thursday 7 November, 6.00 - 7.00pm
Dissociation changes your sense of time and identity, and makes people feel disconnected from their thoughts, feelings, and memories. It's a normal phenomenon that most people experience at some point, though some will develop a dissociative disorder that requires treatment. Explore the types of dissociative disorders, their symptoms, prevalence & causation, and how they're treated with a licensed therapist.
Self-care and wellbeing: a hands-on approach for better health (webinar from Mindspring Mental Health Alliance), Wednesday 6 November, 6.00 - 7.00pm
It’s normal to experience anxiety, fear, anger, and grief during times of uncertainty. 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
Smile with chronic illness! Mid-morning session (online peer support drop-in from Rogue Debbie CIC), Tuesday 5 November, 10.30 - 11.30am
Online peer-support drop in, for people living with the mental and physical symptoms of chronic illness.
Mindsnaps online (online session from Steve Rose). Wednesday 6 November, 7.00 - 9.00pm
Using photography to enable discussions about feelings and emotions in a fun, safe format.
Online Talk : social media – friend or foe? - Setting healthy boundaries (from Inner Space Manchester), Friday 8 November, 6.30 - 7.30pm
How to stay in control, avoid burnout, and keep your mental health in check while staying connected.
Book Online Talk : social media – friend or foe? - Setting healthy boundaries
Got a relevant event to share in this newsletter?
Let us know by emailing the details to [email protected]
Podcasts
Podcast: Knowing … our resilience through our neurodivergence (from Joy Media)
How neurodivergence can inform resilience
Listen to Podcast: Knowing … our resilience through our neurodivergence
Podcast: Gareth Gates and Ed Balls on stammering (from the BBC)
Pop Idol star Gareth Gates and ex-politician Ed Balls on navigating life with a stammer
Articles
The unsung heroes of Black history and mental health (from Mental Health Foundation)
Highlighting some of the extraordinary individuals who have paved the way in how we understand and support peoples’ mental health – to all of our benefit.
Creating safe spaces in recreational sport: A mental health perspective (from SIRC)
Sports are often celebrated for their physical benefits, but they also play a crucial role in mental health. Participation in sports can improve mood, stress relief, and foster a sense of belonging.
Read Creating safe spaces in recreational sport: A mental health perspective
The importance of positive mental health (from SWE)
Learn some valuable tips to help you improve your well-being.
One Good Thing: why setting small, achievable goals is the best way to tackle overwhelm and be more productive (from Stylist)
Completing a small task, like writing one paragraph of a report, gives you something concrete to point to as a success, challenging the negative self-talk that says you can’t get things done.
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 5 November, 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 4 November, 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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