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Local Update, 27 September 2021

Run by volunteer members, for members Barnet Voice for Mental Health [[link removed]]

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.

From Survivor to Thriver Podcast

Co-hosts Erik DaRosa and Marc Fernandes have honest and relatable conversations with real people who are shattering mental health stigmas and finding their voices.

Listen [[link removed]]

How Being Positive Can Improve Mental Health

Experts explain to how to incorporate gratitude practices in your daily life

Read [[link removed]]

Depression is not a one-size-fits-all condition – we need a more nuanced approach to mental health

Feelings of sadness are ubiquitous but the concept of depression is ill-defined

Read [[link removed]]

Stress management

Everyone has their own way of trying to deal with stress, but I find that sometimes it can help to hear other people's strategies for doing so to see whether they can supplement our own techniques.

In this spirit, I will describe below some techniques I have for managing stress, which I have been thinking about recently due to having gone through a stressful situation.

Hearing other people's problems

Sometimes if I am going through a difficult time, it can help to take my mind off things and put things in perspective if I hear about difficulties other people are going through, particularly family and friends. I find this can reduce the sense of distress I am feeling in the knowledge that most people are going through issues most of the time, that this in many ways is part of the human condition.

Going to a favourite place

I find that if I am feeling stressed, if I go somewhere like a favourite cafe or park, this can help to reduce the negative feelings I am experiencing and sometimes help me see my problems in a different, more positive light as well. This is particularly the case if I have been a bit isolated at home and then travel somewhere where there are plenty of people around. Just seeing people experiencing a normal existence can make a positive difference to how I am feeling, and enable me to feel better when I go home.

Taking inspiration from others

Sometimes it can feel like some people have a perfect life, but my feeling is this is rarely the reality, I find that if there is someone whose life I admire, it can also help to think about the difficult issues they will also have faced in their life.

In recent times we have seen the extraordinary achievement of Emma Raducanu to win the US Open. But only a few weeks before this she went through the difficult experience of withdrawing from Wimbledon with breathing difficulties. And although she appears to be dealing with her new found fame very well, my view is this is unlikely to be totally a bed of roses.

I have found that observing and thinking about how she has been dealing with whatever comes her way has provided me with inspiration to do the same in my own life.

Trying something different

I have found that doing a different activity to usual can sometimes get me out of a negative mindset, and following on from the above I have recently started watching live tennis on Amazon Prime Video. In my case, there is something about changing to a different activity to usual that helps me to combat stress when I have been focussing on the same thoughts repeatedly.

Means of expression other than words

In my case, stress usually manifests itself through verbal thoughts that trouble me, and sometimes it can help relieve the tension by engaging other senses. This might be music or drawing or photography, or even just the smell of newly mown grass. I find that if there is something troubling me it helps to "replace" it with something like a favourite tune or taking photos in a favourite location.

Thinking about the bigger picture

There are perhaps as many views of the world as there are people on the planet, but there are some issues which affect many or all of us. I find it can sometime help me to escape and combat a stressful situation if I think about and engage with such issues.

Some people find that religion has this effect. Alternatives might include climate change, inequality in the world or the future prospects for children and young people. Sometimes, my own problems don't seen so insurmountable when I think about the bigger picture like this. I also find that the knowledge that concern over such issues is shared amongst large numbers of people can also forge connections to others and in the process relieve the stress that comes from feeling one is alone.

Hoping some of you find some of the above of interest :)

National Inclusion Week - Mental Health conversations in the workplace, Thursday 30 September, 1.00 - 2.00pm

Having conversations about mental health in the workplace is hard. This session will give a background to common mental health conditions, explore why mental health in the workplace is so important and give an understanding of how to approach conversations on mental health too.

Book [[link removed]]

WIMS Live | Climate Change and Mental Health, Tuesday 28 September, 11.00am - 12.00pm

In this webinar, there will be a discussion on some of the ways in which eco-anxiety manifests itself in our day-to-day lives, how it's a natural response to a serious issue, how taking action can help to empower us and ease feelings of helplessness, and how nature and the environment can support us in recovery and maintaining wellbeing.

Book [[link removed]]

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.

The following online workshops are available to all adults anywhere. Mind and Mood Support Group

Mind & Mood Support Group has returned to face to face meetings at 55 Christchurch Avenue, London N12 0DG. To enquire about becoming a new member, please contact either Peter or Sandra below.

Peter Sartori e: [[email protected]]

Sandra Turner e: [[email protected]]

Both Peter Sartori and Sandra Turner have extensive experience of the mental health system.

We are an independent support group, run by ex service users, for service users, their carers and supporters.

About Inclusion Barnet

[[link removed]]

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 [[link removed]] (supporting disabled people in Barnet to access the benefits they are entitled to).

Touchpoint [[link removed]] (supports people experiencing any form of disability in Barnet to access the services and resources they need).

Healthwatch Barnet [[link removed]] (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 [[link removed]]

Useful links for mental health and wellbeing

Click on the title to go to the individual websites.

LOCAL

Mind in Barnet [[link removed]] - counselling Mind in Barnet Sanctuary [[link removed]] - find calm, make space, move forward Barnet Wellbeing Service [[link removed]]BEH-MHT* crisis helpline 0800 151 0023 24/7, 365 days a year.

(*BEH-MHT = Barnet, Enfield Haringay - Mental Health Trust)

LONDON & NATIONAL

The Help Hub [[link removed]] - free online emotional support sessions Good Thinking [[link removed]] - free online Mental Wellbeing for London Kooth [[link removed]] - free, safe and anonymous online support for young people Qwell [[link removed]] - free online safe and confidential space to share & support

Shout [[link removed]]- free, 24/7 text messaging support - text SHOUT to 85258 Samaritans [[link removed]] - free phone & email support in a crisis Turn2Me [[link removed]] - free online Support Groups Useful links from Sussex University [[link removed]] - lots of useful links to MH resources

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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