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Local Update, 20 December 2021

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. Produced by Ed Peston, Communications Assistant.

Inclusion Barnet Events and News Wellbeing at Christmas

Christmas is meant to be enjoyed, but it can be a difficult time of year for those of us that are struggling for one reason or another, whether it be with mental health, physical health, general life circumstances, or all three, particularly if you are isolated.

Since the pandemic started, having a totally “normal” Christmas is difficult for anyone. And past experience tells us that restrictions or regulations may change at short notice.

In recognition of the above, I decided to put together some ideas and resources for how best to cope with the aspects of this time of year that we may find challenging.

Online communities and podcasts

If I’m feeling isolated, I find that sometimes exploring an interest I have in a new way or reaching out to others in a similar situation can help me to feel better and less alone.

Online communities and podcasts can be good for this.

For some examples, I’ve listed below resources that represent interests of mine. If you would like to find something that relates to your hobbies, a simple search online can yield some new ways of developing your interests, often involving others.

Online support groups [[link removed]]

Writing communities [[link removed]]

Classical music forum [[link removed]]

Photography podcasts [[link removed]]

Food podcasts [[link removed]]

Favourite things

I’ve found that during the pandemic I revisited many favourite books and films that I hadn’t experienced for a long time, and doing so made me feel better. This might be worth a try if you are looking for a way to take you back to better times and hopefully feel better.

Writing

Another technique I’ve found useful is to write down my thoughts. This can help me to put things in perspective and I usually don’t worry as much after having done this

Saying no to something

On the other hand, some may be feeling overwhelmed with too many seasonal commitments to fulfill. One piece of advice from an IB member of staff is that it is OK to say no to something if you are feeling it is all too much, whether physically or emotionally, or if something is not right for you.

Helping others if you can

Doing something for someone else, if you have the capacity to do so, can also help you to feel better, whether it be doing shopping for a housebound neighbour, or doing some virtual volunteering for example.

Here are some ideas:-

Volunteering from home [[link removed]]

If you’re going through a crisis

The following will be operating every day:-

Samaritans (phone and email listening service) [[link removed]]

Shout (support by text message) [[link removed]]

BEH Crisis Line for a mental health crisis [[link removed]]

Further resources

Mind Christmas page [[link removed]]

Mental Health Foundation Christmas page [[link removed]]

Shout Christmas page [[link removed]]

Samaritans Christmas page [[link removed]]

Barnet Enfield and Haringey MH Trust have been working for the last 4 years with Inclusion Barnet to put person centred care at the heart of what they do. Inclusion Barnet have helped BEH develop their Recovery Strategy by coproducing it with people who use services. This is the first ever Recovery Strategy for the Trust.

We’re helping the Trust launch the Recovery Strategy and Programme of work next year and we need YOU to tell us what Recovery means to you. We want ideas for logos and straplines, and for the Trust to hear your views. There will be prizes for a large selection of artists on the shortlist and the chance for the winner to work with a professional designer to create the finished logo. For more details please see the Enablement pages on the Trust website and the poster above.

Other Events and News Wellbeing Arts & Crafts Group, Tuesday 21 December, 4 January, 2.30pm

Arts & Crafts is an informal social session where you can gather to work on your own arts and crafts and enjoy some company. Run by NHS Wellbeing (Norfolk and Waveney) but all welcome.

Book [[link removed]]

Mindfulness for Health and Wellbeing, Thursday 23 December, 30 December, 7.00 - 8.00pm

Martsang Kagyu London Buddhist Centre’s free online guided meditation classes follow an ancient tradition of mindfulness meditation that originates from the Buddha’s teachings.

Classes are suitable for beginners (Buddhist or non-Buddhist) and those who are more familiar with meditation.

Book [[link removed]]

Eat, Exercise, Energise, Tuesday 21 December, 28 December, 5.30 - 6.30pm

Weekly group session to understand how to make healthier lifestyle decisions and therefore improve your mental health.

Book [[link removed]]

Podcasts My Family, Mental Illness, and Me

Conversations about parental mental illness, with Dr Pamela Jenkins. Pamela's mum Irene had a schizo-affective disorder. In each of these episodes, she shares memories and experiences with someone else who also grew up as the child of a parent with mental illness.

Listen [[link removed]]

Life, Interrupted with Simon Thomas

Simon Thomas explores human endurance through the toughest times. In a series of interviews with well-known celebrities and notable people, he discovers how crisis and desperation can lead to hope and inspiration for a new and happy life.

Listen [[link removed]]

Articles Coronavirus: how to manage your mental health while working from home

How can people maintain good mental health during a pandemic?

Read [[link removed]]

I’m a Celebrity: Frankie Bridge opens up about mental health struggles and treatment experience

‘I’d just cry all the time and I didn’t want to be alive anymore,’ singer told fellow contestant Matty Lee

Read [[link removed]]

How to look after you and your mental health this Christmas

Christmas is almost upon us, but with all the joy that the season brings to many, for others it is anything but the most wonderful time of the year.

Read [[link removed]]

Mental Health at Christmas: Some Tips for Coping

This infographic offers up a number of tips to help those who are suffering from ill-mental health issues during this time of year.

Read [[link removed]]

Regular Events in Barnet 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

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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