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Local Update, 24 February 2025
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
Inclusion Barnet AGM date confirmed
The next Annual General Meeting (AGM) for Inclusion Barnet will be held on Tuesday 11 March 2025 at 4pm until 5.30pm via Zoom. If you are a member, you will have already received an email invitation, please check your junk mail.
If you’d like to sign up as a member, its FREE and takes just a few minutes: Sign up to Inclusion Barnet membership.
Events and news from the web
Reminder: Hub Connections
27th February 2025
11.15am to 2.15pm | The Meritage Centre, Church End, London NW4 4JT
You are invited to the next Hub Connections event!
Join Barnet Wellbeing Service and Barnet Primary Care Group for an event on self-care, chaired by Dr. Clare Stephens.
Highlights include:
Expert talks on cancer awareness by Dr. Cuddis and vaccinations by Dr. Yong.
Discussions around managing your health at home.
Information stalls from local organisations.
Come along, enjoy a complimentary lunch, and connect with others – they’d love to see you there!
Registration link:
bit.ly/HUB270225
Contact:
[email protected]
03333 449 088
www.barnetwellbeing.org.uk
Springtime & mental health - connecting with nature (webinar from Mid West Aries), Wednesday 26 February, 2.00 - 3.00pm
In this webinar they will explore how connecting with nature can bring hope and meaning to our lives, boost mental health, and enhance overall well-being.
Stigma in the workplace (webinar from Mindspring Mental Health Alliance), Thursday 27 February, 4.00 - 5.00pm
Research shows that about 75% of employees have struggled with an issue that affected their mental health - but 8 out of 10 workers with a mental health condition say shame and stigma prevent them from seeking mental health care. This is problematic for employers because untreated mental illness costs companies billions every year. Discuss the impact of unconscious bias and how stigma influences hiring, organizational supports, and workplace culture.
Asking for support: disclosing mental illness at work and in relationships (webinar from Mindspring Mental Health Alliance), Wednesday 26 February, 4.00 - 5.00pm
Choosing to share information about mental health is a personal decision that often has to be made more than once. Discuss what factors to consider when making the decision and how to make the disclosure when the time feels right.
Book Asking for support: disclosing mental illness at work and in relationships
Rainbow Mind's radical self-care workshops for activists (LGBTQIA+ BAPOC) (virtual workshop from Ranbow Mind), Wednesday 26 February, 2.00 - 4.00pm
Are you an LGBTQIA+ BAPOC (Black, Asian, Person of Colour) or racialised activist based in Europe? Join this online event to explore our shared connection and how we can take care of ourselves and each other with mindfulness.
Book Rainbow Mind's radical self-care workshops for activists (LGBTQIA+ BAPOC)
Shaping climate history: planetary health and climate change (online talk from Royal College of Nursing Library and Museum), Wednesday 26 February, 5.30 - 6.30pm
Join historian Deborah Coen and nursing professor Teddie Potter (Center for Planetary Health and Environmental Justice) to explore the past, present and future of global climate change and planetary health.
Book Shaping climate history: planetary health and climate change
Mental health & suicide awareness training (online course from Kaleidoscope Plus Group), Monday 24 February, 1.00 - 4.30pm
An online course developing skills and confidence to be able to support someone experiencing mental health struggles, in distress or having thoughts of suicide.
Introduction to mindfulness based stress reduction (online group from Community Bread), Saturdays, 1.00 - 2.30pm
Reduce stress and anxiety, increase your overall sense of well-being
Mindsnaps online (online session from Steve Rose), Wednesday 5 March, 7.00 - 9.00pm
Using photography to enable discussions about feelings and emotions in a fun, safe format.
Women's mental health - for women with women (online workshop from C&D Learning Solutions Ltd), Saturday 22 March, 9.00 - 10.00am
Come along and join like minded women interested in their mental health and wellbeing and together explore what can impact wellbeing and how we can work with it.
Got a relevant event to share in this newsletter?
Let us know by emailing the details to [email protected]
Podcasts
A Healthy Point of View Podcast (from Sam Tejada)
Thought provoking conversations about challenges in life.
Podcast: How do you cope? …with Elis and John (from the BBC)
Elis James and John Robins talk to a range of guests about the challenges and hurdles they've faced in their own lives, whilst asking the question... How Do You Cope?
Articles
To help mental health services, we have to reduce the need for them (from Chamber)
"The length of mental health waiting lists have raised questions about how to address the growing number of people in need of mental health support – the solutions lie not in denial of the problem, but in recognising how society impacts our mental health, and preventing mental health problems from reaching crisis point."
Read To help mental health services, we have to reduce the need for them
Calling time alone “me-time” boosts positive feelings and improves perceptions, unlike labeling it “isolation” (from Psy Post)
Framing time alone as “me-time” rather than “isolation” enhances emotional well-being, increases positive affect, and improves beliefs about solitude, according to a new study published in Cognition & Emotion.
Man embarks on epic mental health awareness walk (from the BBC)
A man is walking more than 400 miles to Glasgow from Surrey to raise awareness of men's mental health issues.
Jack Percival, from Epsom, told the BBC he started the challenge in January, a year after he experienced serious issues with his mental wellbeing.
Overall, people feel better about life in the morning (from earth.com)
Many people have experienced waking up in a good mood in the morning, only to feel drained by the end of the day. A new study confirms that this pattern is not just a personal feeling – it is a widespread trend.
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 25 February, 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 3 March, 6.00pm
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.
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.
Fortnightly meetings will now be held at Friern Barnet Community Library,
Friern Barnet Road, N11 3DS.
Bus routes 221, 382 & 43 stop nearby.
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
- 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
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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