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Local Update, 16 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.
Inclusion Barnet news and events
Next User Voice member meeting this Friday
Join us on Friday 20 March, 1.30–3pm (online) for our next User Voice member meeting. IVAR and the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust would like to hear what reasonable adjustments in A&E at Barnet Hospital and the Urgent Care Centre at Chase Farm would help make the experience work better for you. More info and joining details in our blog post.
Events and news from the web
Barnet Service User and Carer Forum
Date: Wednesday 18th March 2026
(Runs on the third Wednesday of every month)
Time: 14:00 –15:30
The March speaker will be Donna Chan, Prevention & Wellbeing Coordinator within Barnet Adult Social Care. Donna will provide an update and share information on support the Wellbeing & Prevention team offer through Barnet community but also how the team works on a case-by-case basis.
Venue:
In person at Finchley Memorial Hospital. Granville Road London N12 OJE
Ground Floor past the reception desk; glass fronted doors on your right.
(Please be aware that this is a food and drink free zone)
or
Online via Microsoft Teams, join by clicking the link or entering the details below.
MS Teams link is also available on the NLFT trust website.
Microsoft Teams
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.
Mental health in the digital age: how we communicate matters (online event from Mental Health Innovations), Tuesday 17 March, 11.30am - 12.15pm
Increasingly, individuals are turning to digital channels and AI tools for emotional support, information, and crisis intervention.
This session will explore emerging research and service data showing these significant shifts in how people seek mental health support.
Book Mental health in the digital age: how we communicate matters
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.
Keep your marbles: mental health support group (from Keep your marbles), Thursday 19 March, 7.00 - 8.30pm
This is a space to share your experiences, coping strategies, and be a part of a community that understands what it means to struggle with mental health firsthand.
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
Mindfulness for analytical types (or people who think too much) (online event from Anita Kishore), Thursday 19 March, 4.30 - 5.00pm
Short mindfulness session for people who think too much.
Book Mindfulness for analytical types (or people who think too much)
Got a relevant event to share in this newsletter?
Let us know by emailing the details to bvmh@inclusionbarnet.org.uk
Podcasts
Living histories podcast (from Heads On)
Living Histories shares the unheard oral histories of people who have used or worked in NHS mental health services in Sussex from the closure of the asylums in the 1980's, up to and including the Covid-19 pandemic, through a series of podcasts, created using clips from these oral histories.
Podcast: Rethinking humanitarianism | burnout in the aid sector and how to respond (from the New Humanitarian)
Humanitarians have a “burnout culture”, experts say.
Listen to Podcast: Rethinking humanitarianism | burnout in the aid sector and how to respond
Articles
It turns out positive affirmations can actually really improve your mental health (from Huffington Post)
“Educators and parents can use self-affirmation strategies to provide immediate psychological support to help students navigate challenges and build resilience in difficult situations. These strategies can foster individual and social well-being as well as strengthen social connections within communities.”
Read It turns out positive affirmations can actually really improve your mental health
Cold-water immersion offers promise for mental health as scientists warn about potential risks (from Milwaukee Independent)
Claims about the benefits of cold-water immersion date back centuries.
Read Cold-water immersion offers promise for mental health as scientists warn about potential risks
Random acts of kindness (from Mental Health Foundation)
Research shows that helping others can be good for our mental health. It reduces stress, improves our emotional well-being and even benefits our physical health. In short, doing good does you good.
Is political polarization affecting your well-being? (from Psychology Today)
- Emotions associated with strong political identification can affect well-being.
- Politically-induced emotions, both negative and positive, may, over time, lead to depression.
- Channel political energy productively to avoid emotional burnout.
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 16 March, 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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