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Local Update, 23 March 2026
Barnet Voice for Mental Health
020 3475 1314
bvmh@inclusionbarnet.org.uk
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
Barnet Wellbeing Service's next Hub Connections event
Attend on Tuesday 31 March 2026 to connect with others, explore local wellbeing support and take part in gentle, uplifting activities.
At this event you can:
• Take part in accessible activities to energise your body
and mind
• Meet new people and build community connections
• Find out about local wellbeing services
• Enjoy a free light lunch and informal networking
Event Details:
Date: Tuesday 31 March 2026
Time: Doors open at 11:00am, event runs until 2:00pm
Light lunch & networking: 1:00pm to 2:00pm
Location: St Barnabas Church, 913 High Road, London N12 8QJ
Reserve your free spot here: bit.ly/HUB3103
Ethnic mental health carers forum (online group from Matthew McKenzie), Friday 27 March, 10.30am - 12.00pm
Online group aimed at ethnic unpaid Carers of those going through mental ill health.
Nature & wellness series (online sessions from Capital Blue Cross Connect Virtual), Monday 16, 23 March, 4.00 - 5.00pm
Learn about nature's impact on well-being & explore practical strategies for incorporating nature into your routine to boost mental health.
Nature compassion (online group from Jess Read) each Wednesday in April, 11.30am - 12.30pm
An online group exploring mindful resources and practices to turn towards ourselves - and nature - when we need it the most.
Beyond the page (online group from Zen Mushin), Wednesday 25 March, 7.00 - 10.00pm
A session of writing exercises to boost your mental health and wellbeing.
Lunch hour lecture | ethics and the future of health (online lecture from UCL events), Thursday 26 March, 1.00 - 2.00pm
A lecture on the ethical dimensions of healthcare.
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.
The wellbeing series for actors and stage management professionals (online event from British Association for Performing Arts Medicine), Monday 23 March, 12.00 - 1.15pm
Health and wellbeing support workshops free for actors and stage management professionals.
Book The wellbeing series for actors and stage management professionals
Keep your marbles: coping skills: emotions (online group from Keep your marbles), Sunday 29 March, 7.00 - 8.30pm
Learn fun ways to manage your emotions
Got a relevant event to share in this newsletter?
Let us know by emailing the details to bvmh@inclusionbarnet.org.uk
Podcasts
The waiting room podcast (from Young People's Advisory Group)
A podcast exploring and discussing young people's mental health.
The psychiatrist's waiting room podcast (from Georgia Cassimatis)
A show exploring what mental illnesses are like
Articles
How friendships can have positive impacts on mental health (from CBS News)
When it comes to social connections and the value of friendship, science and experts agree that they are crucial for mental health and well-being.
Read How friendships can have positive impacts on mental health
This simple daily habit can decrease anxiety & depression (& research backs it up) (from mindbodygreen)
There's no shortage of things we can do to decrease stress and anxiety, and improve mental health. One of those oft-suggested things is a gratitude practice—but how effective is that, really, for improving mental health?
Read This simple daily habit can decrease anxiety & depression (& research backs it up)
Researchers join forces with families to make sure loved ones have better mental health support (from University of Bristol)
Hannah has been fighting for more than 15 years to help ensure her son receives the mental health care and help he needs.
Read Researchers join forces with families to make sure loved ones have better mental health support
There isn’t just one route to mental wellbeing (from the British Psychological Society)
New research analyses the effects of several wildly different day-to-day strategies to maintain mental health.
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 6 April, 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: befriending@cbplus.org.uk
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: barnet.depressionalliance@gmail.com
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: buildingfriendship@gmail.com. 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: buildingfriendship@gmail.com. Or leave a message with your name and contact number on 020 8449 5320.
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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