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Local Update, 2 February 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
Let's talk children's mental health (online session from Thought Bubbles), Tuesday 3 February, 12.30 - 1.30pm
Explore challenges, coping strategies & ways to support young minds.
Time to Talk: Let's talk about MS & mental health peer group (online group from MS Society Living Well Team), Thursday 5 February, 6.00 - 7.00pm
A conversation about mental health & MS
Book Time to Talk: Let's talk about MS & mental health peer group
Mental Imagery in psychosis and bipolar disorder: new research and insights (online event from the Mental Elf). Wednesday 4 February, 11.00am - 12.00pm
A webinar about the latest research findings, lived experience & future directions on the role of mental imagery in psychosis & bipolar disorder.
Book Mental Imagery in psychosis and bipolar disorder: new research and insights
ADHD in youth: understanding the diagnosis (webinar from Mindpsring Mental Health Alliance), Monday 2 February, 6.00 - 7.00pm
Explore the symptoms and subtypes of ADHD and discuss the pathways to diagnosis
Schizophrenia, the very idea—with reflections on hyperreflexivity (webinar from Maudsley Philosophy Group), Thursday 5 February, 6.00 - 7.30pm
Professor Louis Sass speaks on the topic of schizophrenia from the perspective of phenomenological psychopathology.
Book Schizophrenia, the very idea—with reflections on hyperreflexivity
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
Podcast: I can cope method (from Charlotte Jane Grimaldi Phillips)
Podcast helping you to turn 'I'm stressed' into 'I can cope'
Podcast: bipolar advocacy 101: from political change to family boundaries (from Psych Central)
From setting boundaries with family members who won’t stop asking about your mental health to advocating calmly (and safely) with doctors, insurance companies, and healthcare systems to presenting in front of politicians, this episode tackles the uncomfortable truth: how you advocate matters just as much as what you’re advocating for.
Listen to Podcast: bipolar advocacy 101: from political change to family boundaries
Articles
NHS teams use nature prescriptions to support mental health (from National Health Executive)
Nature Prescriptions offer a valuable, low‑cost way to support mental health throughout the year, while playing an especially important role during winter, when many people experience worsening symptoms of low mood and isolation.
Read NHS teams use nature prescriptions to support mental health
Optimism reduced inflammation in people's bodies. Here are the researcher’s tips for thinking more positively (from Science Norway)
In a new study from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH), researchers find that practising optimism and gratitude has a positive effect on physical health.
Adults had slightly less inflammation in their bodies when they participated in positive psychological activities. The activities were designed to strengthen them and give them more positive emotions.
Peter McDonough and the connection between climate change and mental health (from Mountain Journal)
This article examines how climate change is affecting our landscapes, our brains and our lives.
Read Peter McDonough and the connection between climate change and mental health
Exercise for depression yields similar results to therapy, research says (from Healthline)
Research indicates that exercise can have a positive impact on overall mental health.
Read Exercise for depression yields similar results to therapy, research says
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 2 February, 6.00pm
A free, international safe space to vent and grow with people who understand and accept you.
Regular Events in Barnet
Barnet Friends
Barnet Friends is a free telephone befriending service under the charity, CB Plus. Whether you want someone to talk to, or need some extra motivation to access local wellbeing activities, Barnet Friends can provide a listening ear.
They can support adults aged 18-55 who either live, work or study in Barnet. Their friendly and non-judgemental volunteers can call you once per week for 6-12 months. Their service aims to:
- Reduce feelings of loneliness
- Connect you to local services
- Reduce social isolation
- Provide emotional support
- Empower you to connect with the community
Over the last year they supported 108 people, and matched 26 new clients to their wonderful volunteers. Their personable and empathetic volunteers also carried out just under 600 hours of befriending calls on the phone!
If you are experiencing loneliness now, don't delay; sign up today! You can self refer here. They accept self referrals, as well as referrals through local charities and Social Prescribing Link Workers.
You can also reach them by telephone on 0208 016 0016
Email: [email protected]
Client testimonials:
‘Barnet Befriending is a blessing to me. I am very grateful to have been matched with a befriender who is genuinely kind, easy to talk to, supportive and trustworthy. Thank you for giving me so much comfort that I do not need to suffer in silence or do it alone. I will always be grateful.’
‘I will give you 5 stars. Your organisation is very helpful. Also, the volunteer is a very professional man. He helped a lot.’
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.
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.
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
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
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
- 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 - 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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