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Local Update, 11 August 2025

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.

Events and news from the web Mindful growth tools: from dreaming to doing (online event from ShareWell), Wednesdays at 4.00pm

In this weekly session, Irene Martinho guides you through mindful growth strategies, practical mindset shifts, and guided journaling exercises to help you reconnect with your goals and take meaningful steps forward.

Book Mindful growth tools: from dreaming to doing [[link removed]]

Boosting wellbeing with coaching (webinar from WorkLifePsych Ltd), Wednesday 13 August, 1.00 - 1.45pm

Dr. Richard MacKinnon will share insights from over twenty years as a practitioner psychologist to enable you to understand how coaching can boost wellbeing at work, and outside of work

Book Boosting wellbeing with coaching [[link removed]]

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

Book Eating well for good mental health [[link removed]]

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

Book The circle of kings: men’s health hour [[link removed]]

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.

Book Mindfulness for ADHD [[link removed]]

Monthly ME/CFS peer support group (online support group from Brain Health Breakthrough CIC), Tuesday 12 August, 2.00 - 3.00pm

Peer support sessions for people who have or care for someone who has a diagnosis of ME/CFS.

Book Monthly ME/CFS peer support group [[link removed]]

Got a relevant event to share in this newsletter?

Let us know by emailing the details to [[email protected]]

Podcasts Podcast: Perimenopause and Depression: When Hormones Hijack Your Mental Health (from Psych Central)

What if the sudden mood changes, crushing fatigue, or unexpected anxiety you’re experiencing aren’t just stress or part of getting older, but signs of depression linked to perimenopause?

Listen to Podcast: Perimenopause and Depression: When Hormones Hijack Your Mental Health [[link removed]]

Health on the line (podcast from NHS Confederation)

A fortnightly podcast offering fresh perspectives on the healthcare challenges of our time and ways to confront them.

Listen to Health on the line [[link removed]]

Articles The 5 best foods to eat for better mental health (from self.com)

Research has found that people who stick to a high-quality diet of mostly whole foods (like the Mediterranean diet) or double down on fruits and veggies are less likely to develop depressive or anxiety symptoms over a period of several years

Read The 5 best foods to eat for better mental health [[link removed]]

Video game creates platform for youth mental health (from the BBC)

Game designers in Cornwall are part of a project to create a "serious" video game to help young people deal with adverse childhood experiences.

Read Video game creates platform for youth mental health [[link removed]]

‘I’d had 28 years of depression – now it was gone’: Comic Paul Foot on three seconds that changed his life (from the Guardian)

Driving through Manchester one Sunday, at the wheel of a Nissan Micra, Foot suddenly woke from decades of anxiety, anger and misery. He talks about the friends who tried to help him, and the forgiveness he struggled to find

Read ‘I’d had 28 years of depression – now it was gone’: Comic Paul Foot on three seconds that changed his life [[link removed]]

From hospice chaplain to counselling with alpacas (from the BBC)

The chaplain of a Shropshire hospice is leaving his role after 30 years to pursue a new adventure on his alpaca farm.

Harry Edwards worked at Severn Hospice and was a former Church of England vicar.

Now, he will use his knowledge to offer specialist counselling and training services at his farm at Penley.

Read From hospice chaplain to counselling with alpacas [[link removed]]

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.

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

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.

Book International wellbeing support group [[link removed]]

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: [[link removed]]

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+.

More information on Sanctuary in Barnet [[link removed]]

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

Visit the Andy's Man Club Website [[link removed]]

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=" 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

[[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 Enfield [[link removed]] (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 [[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]]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 [[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

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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