Barnet Voice for Mental Health

Mental Health support run by and for people with lived experience of mental health issues.

Virtual Peer Support Group

It can be hard living with a mental health issue

Would you like some extra support?
Are you finding it a bit hard to cope?
Would you like more people to share with?

If the answer to any of the above is `yes’ our support group could be just right for you!

The Support Group takes place once a week:

On Tuesday afternoons from 1:00-2:30pm.
The group currently takes place online via a video group software called Zoom.

What do we offer?

The group gives you the opportunity to share how you feel with others who can understand because they have had their own experience of mental health issues and/or distress.

The group aims to offer a place where you feel safe and supported to:

Talk about your experiences of living with a mental health issue
Share and learn from others about coping with mental health distress
Find out about where to get help in the community

How do I attend the Virtual Peer Support Group?

To sign up our virtual Peer Support Group, please contact us via one of the following methods. The Barnet Voice team is available 9-5pm, Monday-Friday (except for public holidays):

Telephone: 020 3475 1314
Email : bvmh@inclusionbarnet.org.uk
Online contact form: here

Wellbeing Videos

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.

Wellbeing Breathing Exercises

Developing Resilience in Challenging Times Part 1

Developing Resilience in Challenging Times Part 2

Developing Resilience in Challenging Times Part 3

About Barnet Voice

History

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.

Merging with Inclusion 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.

Find Out More

To find out more about Barnet Voice for Mental Health, or any of their services, get in touch with us today.

Contact Us

Our Services and Projects

Touchpoint
Touchpoint provides residents of Barnet with a place to go to get advice and support when things get difficult.
Benefits Advice Service
Supporting disabled people in Barnet with information and help with applications.
Trust Wide Enablement Partnership
We are proud to be working with Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust to help them deliver peer support and coproduction.
User Voice
Our User Voice project aims to amplify the voices of disabled people in Barnet to ensure they are heard by decision makers and those in power.
Barnet Voice for Mental Health
Our team of talented volunteers provide peer support for people who are struggling with their mental health.

Libraries
Inclusion Barnet runs two popular local libraries, East Barnet and South Friern, in partnership with Barnet Council.
Research
We believe that research is important and that there is a lack of research that deals with the realities of being a disabled person.
Training and Consultancy by Inclusion Unlimited
We provide high quality training and consultancy for organisations which want lived experience to inform their practice and projects.
Community Organisation Support
Working to support the vital role of voluntary sector organisations in the borough of Barnet.
Healthwatch Barnet
Helping local people get the best out of local services.

Barnet Voice for Mental Health