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Local Update, 25 August 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
Grange Big Local closing celebration
Our fantastic Grange Big Local team are holding a closing community festival to celebrate the end of their 10 year resident led community project in East Finchley.
Please come along to celebrate with us! FREE music, food and soft drinks, performances and activities for all ages.
Venue: Tarling
Road Community Centre, N2 8LG
Date: Saturday 6 September 2025, 12-4pm
For questions and accessibility requirements:
Call: 07902900639
Email: [email protected]
Events and news from the web
Having hope in mental health recovery (webinar from Mid West Aries), Wednesday 27 August, 2.00 - 3.00pm
An inspirational panel discussion exploring hope
Ethnic mental health carers forum (online group from Matthew Mckenzie), Friday 29 August, 10.30am - 12.00pm
Monthly discussion forum aimed at families and carers from ethnic Black, Asian and Minority backgrounds who are caring for someone with a mental illness.
Work stress and burnout (webinar from Mindspring Mental Health Alliance), Tuesday 26 August, 6.00 - 7.00pm
Stress is something we all experience in our personal and professional lives. But when stress is severe or prolonged (or both), it can impact our physical and mental health in major ways. Learn practical tips to manage distress to avoid career burnout and discuss effective ways to cope in this one-hour seminar
Re-assess your stress (online session from LifeLink), Wednesday 27 August, 2.00 - 3.30pm
Learn to understand the causes behind feelings of stress, worry and anxiety and strategies to manage feelings.
Eating well for good mental health (online session from Nicole Carter Fitness), Tuesdays, 7.00 - 7.30pm
Learn tips and hints for eating well to boost your mood and overall well-being
The circle of kings: men’s health hour (online event from The Maths Surgery Uk Limited), Sundays, 7.00 - 8.30pm
A chance to prioritize your health and make positive changes in your life
Mindfulness for ADHD (online event from ShareWell), Mondays at 7.00pm
Learn how to build mindfulness muscles that work with your ADHD—not against it.
Monthly ME/CFS peer support group (online support group from Brain Health Breakthrough CIC), Tuesday 9 September, 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
Therapuss with Jake Shane (from Jake Shane)
A show including a therapy session that is both tongue in cheek and introspective
Soft opening (from Catherine Skinner)
Interviews with songwriters, poets and other creatives speaking candidly about their personal experiences with creativity and resilience.
Articles
Postal worker to walk 400 miles for mental health (from the BBC)
Self-styled "step-addict" Nikki Gaynor is set to walk from Darlington to Cornwall, stopping at Royal Mail offices along the way as part of her mammoth challenge.
Your brain on scrolling (from Psychology Today)
Why social media makes us miserable (and what to do about it)
Embracing life’s highs and lows boosts mental health in middle age (from University of Michigan)
Middle-aged adults who adopt an attitude of joyful acceptance toward all of life’s experiences—both good and bad—enjoy better mental health, particularly when they feel socially connected, a new University of Michigan study suggests.
Read Embracing life’s highs and lows boosts mental health in middle age
Why does sunshine make you feel happy? (from the BBC)
It is not just that it makes you feel happier - it can also have a positive impact on your health.
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 1 September, 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
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.
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 Enfield (an independent, statutory organisation dedicated to improving health and social care services in Enfield).
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
- North London NHS Foundation Trust crisis helpline for Barnet, Enfield and Haringey 0800 151 0023 24/7, 365 days a year.
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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