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Local Update, 19 May 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
Disabled voices have been ignored as key proposals to cut benefits are left out of the official Government Consultation.
Our Campaign for Disability Justice has submitted a response to the Green Paper: Pathways to Work and you’re invited to sign our open letter in support.
We continue to stand in solidarity with all DPO’s, charities and organisations in their calls against benefit cuts and harmful policies. Our Campaign for Disability Justice is also looking ahead to how Disabled voices can, and must, be included in Government conversations and reviews of key services, systems and policies that impact them.
It’s time for inclusion!
We’re calling on the Government to fully involved Disabled people in reviews of the Work Capability Assessment, Personal Independence Payment assessments, Safeguarding, employer & employee support and Access to Work.
Please sign our open letter to the Government to support our response.
You can find out more and sign their open letter on the campaign website.
Events and news from the web
Challenging the dominant narrative of mental health (webinar from Platfform Wellbeing), Thursday 22 May, 9.30 - 11.30am
Exploring the history of mental health and the ways in which our current system makes it harder to work in a strengths-based way. This space is to help people challenge assumptions and explore a different way of approaching mental health.
Disability Rights UK mass lobby against benefit cuts at Parliament, Wednesday 21 May, 1.00 - 4.00pm
Disability Rights UK alongside DPAC, The Coalition Against Benefit Cuts, and WellAdapt are hosting a Mass Lobby for anyone able to come down to resist the proposed welfare reforms.
A mass lobby is where a group arranges a large number of meetings between constituents and MPs for the same time. This is an opportunity to push MPs to vote against these cuts, to show the strength of support and to take up visible space in Westminster.
More information about Disability Rights UK mass lobby against benefit cuts at Parliament
If you would like to take action against benefit cuts, but cannot attend something in person, there is a Take Action page full of resources you can use online, such as signing petitions and writing to your MP.
Understanding anxiety (webinar from Mindspring Mental Health Alliance), Tuesday 20 May, 6.00 - 7.00pm
Occasional anxiety is an expected part of life. But anxiety disorders involve more than temporary worry. An accessible guide to understanding what causes anxiety disorders and the types of anxiety, their symptoms, common misconceptions, and how relationships are impacted. Discuss co-occurring disorders, treatment options, and learn practical tips for managing symptoms and helping others in this one-hour seminar.
Understanding adjustment disorders (webinar from Mindspring Mental Health Alliance), Wednesday 21 May, 6.00 - 7.00pm
Adjustment disorders are common psychological conditions triggered by major life changes or stressful events. Symptoms can include anxiety, depressed mood, changes in a person’s behavior and emotions, or a combination of these. Explore the risk factors, causation, and treatment of adjustment disorders with a licensed therapist and learn practical tips to manage symptoms in this one-hour seminar.
Building my self care toolkit (webinar from Mid West Aries), Tuesday 20 May, 2.00 - 4.00pm
Discussing self care strategies you may already have as well as new ones you might learn.
What's the national picture in creative health? (webinar from Culture, Health and Wellbeing Alliance), Wednesday 21 May, 11.00am - 12.30pm
Online event to explore national strategies for boosting creativity and wellbeing.
Beyond the page (online event from Zen Mushin), Tuesday 20 May, 7.00 - 10.00pm
An opportunity to explore the power of writing for self-care and personal growth.
Monthly ME/CFS peer support group (online support group from Brain Health Breakthrough CIC), Tuesday 10 June, 2.00 - 3.00pm
Peer support sessions for people who have or care for someone who has a diagnosis of ME/CFS.
Got a relevant event to share in this newsletter?
Let us know by emailing the details to [email protected]
Podcasts
Podcast: How can I manage anxiety? (from New York Presbyterian)
A clinical psychologist explains what happens in the mind and body when someone is experiencing anxiety, and offers practical strategies to help manage anxiety.
Podcast: Make me smile (from Miist)
Miist shares quick, impactful actions focused on gratitude, kindness and genuine connection.
Articles
Bruce Springsteen recalls having a family 'filled with mental illness' — and his own 'pretty good breakdown' at age 32 (from Yahoo! News)
In a new interview on the Hollywood Reporter podcast Awards Chatter, the 20-time Grammy winner opened up about his family's mental health history and experiencing his own "breakdown" around the release of 1982's Nebraska album.
Bookstrapping: Reading and its positive effects on mental health (from Storyboard 18)
Reading offers an avenue for emotional expression, self-reflection, and empathy. Not just that, it also provides an escape, a way to experience other worlds, and a means of finding solace in difficult times.
Read Bookstrapping: Reading and its positive effects on mental health
Nine ways to support and strengthen your mental health (from Psychology Today)
Strengthening your mental health takes work. But you are worth the effort.
Feeling stressed? Imagining nature can help you relax, scientific study says (from Real Simple)
A recent study claims that mental imagery of nature-based environments can reduce stress significantly.
Similarly, imagery of urban environments was linked to higher levels of stress and mental fatigue.
The next time you're feeling stressed, take a stroll in nature or simply imagine an ideal natural environment in your mind.
Read Feeling stressed? Imagining nature can help you relax, scientific study says
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 19 May, 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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