No images? Click here [link removed]

Local Update, 27 March 2023

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.

Please note there will be no newsletter next week.

Inclusion Barnet Events and News Job vacancy – Peer Communications Officer

We’re hiring a new Peer Communications Officer!

Job Title: Peer Communications Officer

Hours: Part-time, 21 hours per week

Location: NW9, London (Hybrid)

Salary: £25,000 pro rata, (£15,000 actual)

Closing date: 19 April 2023

Would you describe yourself as digitally savvy? Do you have communications experience? Are you looking for a great opportunity to showcase and develop your creativeness and expertise? If you have lived experience of disability, which could include a long-term health or mental health condition, then you could really thrive at our inclusive organisation.

We are looking to recruit to a Peer Communications role to work closely with our Comms team to develop and maintain a suite of promotional comms channels, including social media, website, videos, digital and print flyers, and newsletters.

More information on Job vacancy – Peer Communications Officer and apply [[link removed]]

Events and News from the Web Understanding bipolar disorder (From Stratus Coaching), Thursday 30 March, 12.00 - 12.30pm

This interactive webinar will look at:

What is mental health?

What is depression?

What is bipolar depression?

What are the common signs and symptoms to look out for?

How to have a conversation and support someone.

5 Ways to Wellbeing.

Book Understanding bipolar disorder [[link removed]]

An Introduction to Film Therapy: Online Training (From the College of Social Science), Thursday 30 March, 12.00 - 1.00pm

Film therapy, the therapeutic use of movies in psychological therapies, is a growing area of interest to therapists and researchers alike. Film therapy is a highly accessible and relatable method for many diverse client groups. Clients often talk about films and TV shows during therapy sessions as they see elements of their own story reflected on screen. This workshop introduces film therapy and considers new methods for exploring movie themes.

Book An Introduction to Film Therapy: Online Training [[link removed]]

Sleep for Wellbeing (From the Retreat Clinics), Thursday 30 March, 6.00 - 7.30pm

This introductory workshop will explore the impact of sleep on wellbeing. This session will consider what ‘good sleep’ is, the impact of poor sleep, as well as some practical self-help strategies for a better night sleep. There will be dedicated time at the end to ask questions.

Book Sleep for Wellbeing [[link removed]]

The Science of Resilience (From Due East Partners), Wednesday 29 March, 8.30 - 10.00pm

Tirrany Thurmond & Courtney Suddes will lead a discussion on the role of resilience in mental health & self care practices as well as research that illuminates how we operate, what we need, how we heal and what it takes to be healthy & inspired - at work, at home and everywhere in between.

Book The Science of Resilience [[link removed]]

Supporting Mental Health: Effective Communication & Assertiveness (From Ideal for All), Tuesday 28 March, 10.00am - 1.00pm

Learning Outcomes will include:

·Identify effective communication methods and the importance of positive body language

·Understand active listening and its significance, examining problem solving towards barriers to communication

·Differentiate Passive, Aggressive and Assertive communication styles and understand the benefits of being assertive and learning to say ‘No’

Book Supporting Mental Health: Effective Communication & Assertiveness [[link removed]]

Podcasts The Music & Meditation Podcast (From the BBC)

Join Nao to escape the noise of daily life through the power of music and meditation. Experience guided meditations from a range of experts, enhanced by immersive classical sound.

Listen to The Music & Meditation Podcast [[link removed]]

Podcast: The Weigh Up: Eating Disorder Diaries (From the BBC)

Recovering anorexic Molly guides you through the truths of eating disorders and learns how others have found their way up.

Listen to Podcast: The Weigh Up: Eating Disorder Diaries [[link removed]]

Articles Long COVID: what we know about how the condition affects mental health (From the Conversation)

Long COVID symptoms can include extreme fatigue, headaches, problems with concentration and memory (known as “brain fog”), disturbed sleep, palpitations and organ impairment. Some people fail to improve after having COVID, whereas others get better but then decline.

There are also a variety of mental health concerns associated with long COVID, with symptoms of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder raised in those who continue to face symptoms after their initial infection.

Read Long COVID: what we know about how the condition affects mental health [[link removed]]

‘It helps so much’: long Covid sufferers aided by sessions with opera singers (From the Guardian)

A Welsh National Opera project is reaching out to patients via Zoom to share the benefits of exercises such as breath control

Read ‘It helps so much’: long Covid sufferers aided by sessions with opera singers [[link removed]]

2 Positive Personality Traits That Support Good Mental Health (From Psyblog)

People who keep following their dreams are less likely to suffer from depression, anxiety or panic attacks.

Read 2 Positive Personality Traits That Support Good Mental Health [[link removed]]

One Good Thing: build your mental health toolkit with the AAA approach (From Stylist)

"Many years ago I started to see a common pattern in my clinic, where people had tried many – and I mean tons – of techniques and methods to improve their mental health. But it was quite chaotic because there was no clear rationale, mainly because we all just desperately want to feel better."

Read One Good Thing: build your mental health toolkit with the AAA approach [[link removed]]

Was the Covid pandemic bad for mental health? It depends who you ask (From the Guardian)

A report has been seized upon to argue that lockdown had little effect on mental health – but the truth is more nuanced

Read Was the Covid pandemic bad for mental health? It depends who you ask [[link removed]]

Mental-health crisis from Covid pandemic was minimal - study (From the BBC)

People's general mental health and anxiety symptoms hardly deteriorated at all during the pandemic, research suggests.

Most people are resilient and made the best of a difficult situation, it says.

Read Mental-health crisis from Covid pandemic was minimal - study [[link removed]]

Why are my mental health issues socially acceptable – but not my family’s? (From the Independent)

I grew up with an acute sense of how frightening and all-consuming psychotic illness can be

Read Why are my mental health issues socially acceptable – but not my family’s? [[link removed]]

A place to exercise your brain? Introducing mental health gyms (From the BBC)

When 42-year-old David McCullar thinks back to the early 2000s, a chapter in his life marked by rapid changes, he recalls palm trees, sunny beaches - and panic attacks that made him ill. Where gastroenterologists, anti-nausea pills and indigestion drugs failed to make a difference, a podcast about "brain training" and its effects on mental health offered him hope.

Read A place to exercise your brain? Introducing mental health gyms [[link removed]]

Mental health: how living in the city and country compare (From the Conversation)

Is it better to live in a city or in the countryside? While urban dwellers may benefit from more employment opportunities, better access to public services alongside cultural activities and entertainment, people who live in rural areas often argue they have a better sense of community and greater access to nature.

Read Mental health: how living in the city and country compare [[link removed]]

Regular Events on the Web Mindly Weekly - Practical Tips on Mental Wellbeing & General Anxiety (From Step8up Mindly), Tuesday 4 April, 12.30 - 1.00pm

Join this session each week to know how easy it is to manage day to day mental wellbeing, especially general anxiety, using methods which are practical and easy.

Book Mindly Weekly - Practical Tips on Mental Wellbeing & General Anxiety [[link removed]]

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.

Book Online wellbeing workshops from Mid West Aries [[link removed]]

Psychologically Informed Reflective Practice for Parents (From Jounita Wright), Thursday 30 March, 7.00 - 10.00pm

This is a free online event for any parent/carer of adolescents aged 13-20 concerned with behaviour change.

Book Psychologically Informed Reflective Practice for Parents [[link removed]]

Online ADHD Support Group (From Tim Kiver Foundation), Tuesday 11 April, 7.30 - 9.00pm

A safe place for anyone interested in ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) in ANY way to share experiences and learn more about:

• What ADHD is

• How ADHD affects peoples every day life

• Ways to manage ADHD symptoms

• How to seek medical help for ADHD

• The Facts and Fiction that surround ADHD

Book Online ADHD Support Group [[link removed]]

International Wellbeing Support Group (From Rain on Me), Monday 3 April, 5.30pm

A free, international safe space to vent and grow with people who understand and accept you.

Book International Wellbeing Support Group [[link removed]]

Singing For Mindfulness and Mental Wellbeing (From Holistic Wellness Community), Wednesday 29 March, 6.00 - 7.00pm

An hour of singing for the soul. Victoria will share with you some short, simple but deeply nourishing or uplifting songs that will go in easily, no matter what your experience. Attendees are muted for the songs which means you can sing out loud without any inhibition! And even ad lib over the top if you want! Attendees can also keep videos off if preferable.

Book Singing For Mindfulness and Mental Wellbeing [[link removed]]

Regular Events in Barnet 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 [[link removed]]

Barnet Carers

Barnet Carers provides support and information for unpaid, informal, carers across the London Borough of Barnet. Includes yoga, meditation and mindfulness.

Read about and book Barnet Carers Events [[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.

Do you feel isolated or lonely? Come along to Building Friendship. Free. remaining info repeats in main article." width="503" src=" Weekly online social group from Mind in Enfield and Barnet, Fridays from 6.00 - 7.00pm

This group takes place by Zoom, and the session is broken up into a few casual activities such as:

Catch up about each other’s week

Play a quiz where everybody provides 3 questions

Share and discuss TV, movies and news that has inspired us this week

If you would like to attend, please email Sam Brown at [[email protected]]

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.

Since the Pandemic. Our group has gone through necessary changes. One week our group meets via Zoom from 6-7.15pm. Alternate wks. we meet, in person at 55 Christchurch Avenue 6-7.30pm. No-one is allowed to join our meetings without prior arrangement.

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

[[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 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

Sign up to this newsletter

If this newsletter was forwarded on to you, why not sign up and get the next edition delivered straight to your inbox?

Sign up here [[link removed]]

You are receiving this email as a member or friend of Inclusion Barnet, or because you signed up to receive it. If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter please:

Unsubscribe from this newsletter [[link removed]]

Unsubscribe [link removed]