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Local Update, 3 August 2026
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.
Events and news from the web
National Survivor User Network (NSUN) paid blog opportunities
NSUN, a critical mental health charity, working to challenge mainstream mental health practices, invites blogs of 500 - 1000 words from individuals with lived experience of mental ill-health, distress, or trauma with payment of £150 for those they publish.
Research project: Experiences of surveillance technology in inpatient wards (from People in Research)
A research project with the aim of understanding harm associated with the use of surveillance technology in inpatient mental health wards. It seeks interview participants with experience of surveillance technology, preferably in the past 5 years, but who left the ward at least 3 months ago. Interview will run online, using time mapping as a method.
Opportunity
Deadline:
15th August 2026
Payment:
£80 (bank transfer or voucher available)
Expenses:
£30ph care replacement cost if needed
Menopause & mental health (online event from Ajuda), Thursday 6 August, 10.00am - 12.00pm
An event designed to help you manage your wellbeing during menopause
Keep Your Marbles: coping skills: boundaries (online event from Keep Your Marbles), Sunday 9 August, 7.00 - 8.30pm
This is an interactive session filled with tips, strategies, and reflections to help you navigate setting healthy boundaries.
Doctors in Distress support group (online group from Doctors in Distress), Wednesdays 12.30 - 1.30pm
Supportive, confidential group for healthcare workers experiencing issues affecting their mental health
Clarity and calm journalling circle (online group from Sue Richards), Tuesdays 8.00 - 9.00pm
Weekly journalling circle for women running their own business.
Mindfulness-based cancer support group (online group from Holo Health), Saturdays, 7.00 - 8.30pm
Free group sessions aiming to reduce stress, improve quality of life, and support recovery in cancer, led by an Oncology Nurse Specialist.
Got a relevant event to share in this newsletter?
Let us know by emailing the details to [email protected]
Podcasts
Nothing to fix podcast (from Jordan Alam and Gloria Huh)
A podcast about healing in therapy
Mental health: hope and recovery podcast (from Mind Body Spirit.FM)
A podcast about overcoming severe mental illness
Articles
I took a cold shower every morning for a week—here’s how it changed my mood and energy (from Very Well Mind)
Cold showers may help improve mood, focus, and stress, but more high-quality research is needed.
Read I took a cold shower every morning for a week—here’s how it changed my mood and energy
Don’t snooze, I lose: how I’m learning to sleep with schizophrenia (from Teva)
Erica Crompton shares her personal experience of sleep disturbances and insomnia since being diagnosed with psychosis in 2002 and schizophrenia in 2010.
Read Don’t snooze, I lose: how I’m learning to sleep with schizophrenia
Six things to do this summer (from BBC)
Exams are over and school’s out for summer. It's a big change and a chance to take it easy and relax. But, lounging around can soon get a bit boring, so, what else can you do that might make the long weeks ahead a bit more fun?
Social group 'makes huge difference' to members (from BBC)
Kira Moisan started Safety in New Friends four years ago to help those who were experiencing social isolation in Jersey.
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 3 August, 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.
Grief Café - support and connection for bereaved people
North London Hospice offer the following welcoming spaces where you can have a cup of tea, a biscuit and share your thoughts and feelings.
- Enfield Town Library, 66 Church Street, Enfield, EN2 6AX. Second Tuesday of every month, 10am to 12pm. Location on Google Maps.
- South Friern Library, Colney Hatch Lane, Barnet, N10 1HD. Second Thursday of every month, 11am to 1pm. Location on Google Maps.
- Julius Newman House, Woodside Park Road, Finchley, N12 8RP. Third Friday of every month, 10:30am to 12pm. Location on Google Maps.
- Living Well Centre, First Floor, The Mall Wood Green, 159 High Road, Wood Green, N22 6YQ. Fourth Wednesday of every month, 12pm to 1:30pm. Location on Google Maps.
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 0800 368 7848
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.
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
LONDON & NATIONAL
- NHS mental health crisis service: If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, you can contact the NHS mental health crisis service by calling 111 and selecting option 2. This service is available 24 hours a day, seven days per week.
- 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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