Join us in a relaxed, friendly environment to tell us what you think of mental health services and policies in Barnet and nationally.
Help to shape and drive a group aiming to make sure that decision-makers hear the voices that matter most – those of the people whose lives they affect.
Our newsletter provides a weekly run-down of local mental health related news, events and services. To sign up for the BVMH News please put in your details below. By signing up you agree to our privacy and data usage policy.
Download the latest copy and back copies of our Barnet Voice newsletter below.
The next issue is not due until Monday 30th May. Sign up to receive it direct to your email inbox here.
Difficult times such as these may have an effect on our mental health and wellbeing. Our Peer trainer Hannah has created some videos to help you support your own mental health and wellbeing from home. These videos include tips and techniques to staying well.
Barnet Voice for Mental Health (BVMH) was started by Elsie Lyons in 1994 as the first mental health ‘Service-User Group’ in the borough. Elsie and her fellow inspiring Founding Members built Barnet Voice upon the strong belief that people who live with mental health issues or distress day-to-day can harness their rich experiences to design, deliver and improve mental health services in Barnet. Barnet Voice for Mental Health became an Independent Organisation in 1998, run by and for people with lived experience of mental health difficulties.
Historically, Barnet Voice was closely involved with the design and development of mental health services with Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust and in shaping the way in which ‘service user involvement’ was integrated into services in Barnet; this included helping them to decide which services to start, taking part in consultations about changes to services, delivering training to staff and sitting on panels for the recruitment of mental health staff. Barnet Voice also ran their own innovative peer-run crisis house, Kaya House, and delivered peer support with people who were staying in mental health wards in Barnet.
In October 2017, Barnet Voice members voted to join Inclusion Barnet; this decision was made in order to strengthen BVMH’s infrastructure in challenging times and in the belief that joining forces would enhance the power and reach of peer-led activity in the borough.