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Local Update, 31 March 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
How to take action against benefit cuts
The Government has announced plans to change disability benefits, aiming to save £5 billion by 2029-30. Further cuts were announced in last week’s budget. Here’s what that means:
- Making it harder to get the higher rate of Universal Credit and reducing its value. New claims will be halved and then frozen.
- Stopping under-22s from getting the higher rate of Universal Credit.
- Tightening rules so as to make it much harder to get PIP (Personal Independence Payment) Daily Living component.
- Introducing time limits on contribution-based ESA (Employment and Support Allowance) for new claims, even for the most severely disabled.
These cuts will push many Disabled people into deeper poverty, worsening physical and mental health, and increasing hardship.
We’re calling on the Government to take these cuts off the table.
We need your voice now more than ever, every single one of us must say no to cuts!
Use our easy template to write to your MP today
Events and news from the web
All in her mind (online conversation form Cambridge Festival), Wednesday 2 April, 2.00 - 3.00pm
Join doctor in psychiatry, writer and researcher, Dr Kate Womersley in conversation with authors Dr Linda Gask and Dr Rebecca Lawrence on the lived experience of mental illness (and recovery), myths and misinformation about women’s mental health, and tackling mental health stigma.
Optimise emotional resilience through neuroscience & psychology (webinar from Dr. Sajid),Sunday 6 April, 6.30 - 8.30pm
Unlock resilience using neuroscience, psychology, and philosophy. Learn practical tools to navigate emotions and thrive through adversity.
Book Optimise emotional resilience through neuroscience & psychology
Mindfulness and breathwork for people with MS (online event from Regina Beach), Monday - Thursday, 12.30 - 1.00pm
A 30-minute meditation, gentle movement, and breathwork session for people with Multiple Sclerosis and related conditions
My mental health - staying connected (online workshop from Mid West Aries), Tuesday 1 April, 2.00 - 4.00pm
There will be a discussion about how maintaining healthy social connections can support mental health and wellbeing.
Got a relevant event to share in this newsletter?
Let us know by emailing the details to [email protected]
Podcasts
Podcast: Real Life With John Cowan (from Newstalk ZB)
A weekly chat show with a guest chatting about their life, upbringing and view of the world.
The mindbodygreen podcast (from mindbodygreen)
Health and wellbeing podcast, with each episode featuring a leader in the health space.
Articles
London mental health expert: Spring clean your family’s mental health (from London Daily News)
We can support our family’s mental health all year round, but Spring is the ideal time to boost our mood and make deeper connections.
Read London mental health expert: Spring clean your family’s mental health
Plans to fund comedy on prescription to aid mental health (from yahoo! news)
Funding “comedy-on-prescription” is a “no-brainer”, MPs have heard, as initial feedback suggests trials of the scheme in London had a positive impact on people’s mental health.
Read Plans to fund comedy on prescription to aid mental health
Is napping good or bad for the brain? (from Psychology Today)
Find out if napping makes you lazy, smart, or just tired.
How positive childhood experiences offset adversity (from Science Friday)
Adversity in childhood can affect our health later in life. But positive childhood experiences also have a profound impact.
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 31 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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