ic

BARNET MENTAL HEALTH NEWS

News for the bipolar and

mental health community

5th October 2015

Photo Emirates Air Line by Farida

You may have been sent a copy of this issue of Barnet Health News by a colleague or friend who thought it might be of value to you You may have picked up a printed copy from one of the mental health information stands we set up around Barnet at weekends If you would like your own copy emailed to you free every Friday please send your email address to barnetbipolargroupgmailcom with the word SUBSCRIBE in the subject box

Our Next Bipolar Group Meeting will be on

Wednesday 28th October 730pm 50 Victoria Road EN4 9PF

Join us Includes support for Depression barnetbipolargroupgmailcom

SUBSCRIBE

GROUPS

barnetbipolargroupcouk

Look out for your mental health before

joining the mindfulness bandwagon

The practise is as mainstream as Yoga

and Pilates but the lack of regulations or

minimum requirements for trainers can

be dangerous Psychiatrists claim it

could be dangerous if under-qualified

individuals deliver mindfulness to

vulnerable people such as those with

anxiety and depression

In rare cases practitioners have experienced

troubling side effects such as ldquodepersonalisationrdquo

where they feel they are watching themselves in a

film With one popular mindfulness app now worth

pound25m itrsquos tempting for businesses to cash in on the

trend

Richard Pierson co-founder of the Headspace app

became interested in mindfulness when searching

for a way to overcome his crippling anxiety ldquoI

couldnrsquot go outside or take public transport It was

really debilitatingrdquo he says He tried everything

from acupuncture to therapy but nothing worked

until he met former Buddhist monk Andy

Puddicombe and learned the ancient meditation

technique which helped alleviate his chronic

condition

He was so impressed he decided to put his

background in marketing and brand development

to good use by joining forces with Puddicombe to

start a mindfulness app to help others like him

more

THE MINDFULNESS BANDWAGON

MENTAL HEALTH WEEK 2015

Mental Health Week will take place from 2-10 October

and coincides with World Mental Health Day on the 10

OctoberThe World Federation for Mental Healthrsquos theme

for World Mental Health Day this year is lsquoDignity in

Mental Healthrsquo Mental Health Week is an opportunity to

promote awareness about mental health provide

information about mental health and wellbeing and

decrease the stigma around mental health issues

Raising awareness of mental health problems will help

reduce the stigma and discrimination experienced by

sufferers and enable them to live in dignity with

improved health and well-being

CHEEKY IRISH MH CALENDAR

Barnet Mind and Mood Support Group Every Wednesday 645pm-845pm

55 Christchurch Avenue Finchley N12 0DG Tel 020 8343 5700

07980 539021 e santurner1657gmailcom 07947 713306 e petersartori1virginmediacom

Try Something New

Sketching All you need is a pencil and paper You could even use a pen and the back of an envelope Itrsquos usually freehand and not intended to be seen by anyone else ndash so you can do whatever you like Itrsquos just a way to record what you see or put down an idea visually Try small light strokes with loose hands using a sharp pencil You can try drawing without looking at the paper or try shading You could use pens darker pencils coloured pencils or erasers to enhance your sketch Try sketching lots of different things and dont worry about whether your sketches look good especially at first Dont be afraid to experiment or just doodle

Please publicise our Bipolar support group to your contacts Our Poster is with this newsletter

Barnet CAB Opening Times Telephone Helpline 0300 456 8365 0930 ndash 1600 Monday ndash Friday (0930 ndash 1930 Wednesdays)

Created in partnership with St Patricks Mental Health

Services lsquoWalk in my Shoesrsquo campaign the calendar is a

tongue-in-cheek look at Macra and young farmers but will

raise the serious issue of protecting your mental health

Macra is an organisation for young people between the

ages of 17 and 35 who are interested in getting involved

in sports travel drama debating or just want to meet

new people and have some fun more

The Governmentrsquos Work Programme is making the lives

of people with mental health problems worse and having

a detrimental impact on peoplersquos ability to work research

by a leading mental health charity has found A report

from Mind said the flagship scheme which requires

people to take unpaid work allocated by contractors or

face losing their lifeline benefits was taking entirely the

wrong approach and actually damaging peoplersquos

motivation and capacity to work morehellip

Mental health patients in Herts had to travel up to 180

miles for a bed because a lack of money has led to a

shortage in the county The Hertfordshire Partnership

NHS Foundation Trust ndash which manages mental health

services ndash has revealed the number of patients sent out

of the county for treatment increased from 29 in 2013-14

to 95 in 2014-15 with most of these placements due to

a lack of beds in Herts Costs for out-of-area placements

for the same period rocketed from pound601000 to pound168

million with patients sent as far afield as Leeds and

Manchester more

WORK PROGRAMME DOESNrsquoT WORK

PATIENTS SENT 180 MILES

Indiarsquos approach to suicides especially farmer suicides

is a mockery of science because they are treated as

purely socio-political phenomena forgetting the medical

aspects and the fact that farmers are first and foremost

human beings If India changes this approach to

suicides the country can cut its suicide numbers by at

least 20 per cent in two years more

Autumn and winter are beautiful seasons The leaves

changing colours the air grows sharp and crisp snow

and frost and ice appear It sounds lovely doesnrsquot it

Except for some people itrsquos not great The reduction in

daylight hours can bring on seasonal depression For

people who struggle with SAD (Seasonal Affective

Disorder) autumn and winter harken days of depressed

moods weight gain or loss periods of withdrawing from

the world and increased sleep People who struggle with

seasonal affective disorder are often misdiagnosed SAD

is not a stand-alone mental illness but is a subtype of

Major Depressive Disorder or Bipolar Disorder more

Todayrsquos Thought

The drop-in with a difference 130pm ndash 430pm

Crochet puppetry meditation hand massage card making games art amp more

Run by and for people who have personal lived experience of mental health issues

Wednesday ndash Hartley Hall Flower Lane Mill Hill NW7 SJA

Friday ndash Finchley Quaker Meeting House 58

Alexandra Grove N12 8HG

Contact Elsie 020 8906 7506 or 07549 152 527

elsiebvmhcouk

HOW TO BATTLE FEELING SAD

Eastern Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group has

launched a mental health online service to improve

access to psychological therapies (IAPT) The service is

aimed towards people with mild to moderate symptoms

of mental health problems including depression anxiety

and stress and is clinically supported by Berkshire

Healthcare which runs Talking Therapies ndash one of the top-

performing IAPT services in the county more

REFERRAL BACKLOG CUT

INDIArsquoS POOR SUICIDE RECORD

ISSUES HARD TO TALK ABOUT Charlie Adam says the most difficult thing about mental

illness is having the strength to reach out for help The

topic of mental health has been close to Adams heart

ever since his father Charlie Adam senior committed

suicide three years ago Former Wales star Gary Speed

also took his own life in 2011 and Clarke Carlisle

attempted to do the same in December of last year

more

Bipolar sufferer Gail Porter has opened up

about her time inside the TV Celebrity Big

Brother house slamming the experience for

being worse than a psych ward The TV Presenter who has hardly had an easy life

admitted the experience was lsquothe worst thing everrsquo

describing her time on the Channel 5 show as simply

lsquohellishrsquo Gail 44 even went so far as to say the house is

worse than being sectioned under the mental health act

(which Porter was due to suffering from bi-polar disorder

since her 20s more

GAIL PORTER SLAMS CELEBRITY BIG BROTHER

Please publicise our Bipolar support group to your contacts Our Poster is with this newsletter We welcome carers

friends or anyone interested to our group

Come and celebrate with us at

Depala Centre

Church Lane East Finchley N2 8DR

11 am ndash 4 pm

stands stalls information refreshments fun

amp games astrology and entertainment

to be opened by

The Mayor of Barnet Mayor Mark Shooter

Our Bipolar Support Group Members are not just Bipolar but suffer from different mood disorders We support each

other through highs and lows

Please publicise our Bipolar support group to your contacts Our Poster is with this newsletter We welcome carers friends

or anyone interested to our group

Barnet World Mental Health Day 2015

Open Mic amp Fundraising Night Sunday 11 October 2015

from 830 pm - midnight at the

Misty Moon 148 High Street Barnet EN5 5XP tele 020 8441 9476

ADMISSION FREE

Any musicians and singers are welcome to take part ndash any style any standard ndash in a musical

evening of madness and songs about mental health including Manic Depression by Jimmy

Hendrix The Lunatics Have Taken Over The Asylum by Fun Boy Three and songs by

Madness and Pink Floyd

ALL PROCEEDS FROM COLLECTIONS DURING THE EVENING TO BE SHARED BY

Event produced by Jevon and FORWARD a registered Barnet based non-profit mental health

social enterprise Registration number 07721346

More information about World Mental Health Day at

httpwwwworldmhd-barnetorghomehtml

A choir funded by the Institute of Mental Health is set to

perform a unique piece of music written by an award-

winning composer which aims to reflect the experiences

of living with anxiety day-to-day The Nottingham Peoplersquos

Choir was set up in 2013 to promote mental health and

wellbeing through the joy of singing Open to anyone mdash

whether or not they can sing mdash it aims to foster an

inclusive attitude and meets during the day to meet the

needs of those who are unable to work The choir will be

joining forces with the Jocelyn Pook Ensemble to perform

Pookrsquos Anxiety Fanfare and Variations at Nottingham

Contemporary later this week

The piece which was commissioned by the Mental Health

Foundation and premiered at the Wigmore Hall as part of

the Anxiety Arts Festival London 2014 is a musical

exploration of everyday mental health disorders written in

five movements more

Record numbers of students are beginning university this

term making the big emotional step of a new

independent life with many living away from home for

the first time But there are warnings of rising numbers of

students struggling to cope with life on campus with

sharp rises in the demand for counselling And there are

questions about whether universities are providing

enough support for emotional and mental health

problems more

People with mental health issues should be more involved

in running the services they use a group representing NHS

managers has recommended Helen Birtwhistle the

external affairs director at the NHS Confederation said

service users were best placed to tell health service bosses

where improvements needed to be made more

We are all in this

together

We are all in this together I understand how you feel

I have been there

Who can say that

Who cant

Vote for real people or just be Real

Before people can be educated

someone needs to understand

Experience is more valuable than facts

Anyone can learn facts Only you have your

experience and your CV can never

describe it

Paedophiles rapists and pig fuckers may be educated

but what do they understand

We are in this together No one understands

By Dave Cox

CARING POLICING SAVING LIVES Hundreds of people kill themselves on Britains rail tracks

each year But training officers to identify and approach

those in danger is helping to save people Last year British

Transport Police estimate 326 people took their lives on

Britains railways nearly one each day To combat this

they launched a new programme that embeds mental-

health care into their police work and repositions the force

as a shepherd into the care system more

STRESSED STUDENTS SEEK HELP

CHOIRrsquoS ACCLAIMED PERFORMANCE

USERS SHOULD RUN THEIR MH SERVICES

Our Bipolar Support Group Members are not just Bipolar but suffer from different mood disorders We support each

other through highs and lows

Please publicise our Bipolar support group to your contacts Our Poster is with this newsletter We welcome carers friends

or anyone interested to our group

Barnet World Mental Health Day 2015

Open Mic amp Fundraising Night Sunday 11 October 2015

from 830 pm - midnight at the

Misty Moon 148 High Street Barnet EN5 5XP tele 020 8441 9476

ADMISSION FREE

Any musicians and singers are welcome to take part ndash any style any standard ndash in a musical

evening of madness and songs about mental health including Manic Depression by Jimmy

Hendrix The Lunatics Have Taken Over The Asylum by Fun Boy Three and songs by

Madness and Pink Floyd

ALL PROCEEDS FROM COLLECTIONS DURING THE EVENING TO BE SHARED BY

Event produced by Jevon and FORWARD a registered Barnet based non-profit mental health

social enterprise Registration number 07721346

More information about World Mental Health Day at

httpwwwworldmhd-barnetorghomehtml

A choir funded by the Institute of Mental Health is set to

perform a unique piece of music written by an award-

winning composer which aims to reflect the experiences

of living with anxiety day-to-day The Nottingham Peoplersquos

Choir was set up in 2013 to promote mental health and

wellbeing through the joy of singing Open to anyone mdash

whether or not they can sing mdash it aims to foster an

inclusive attitude and meets during the day to meet the

needs of those who are unable to work The choir will be

joining forces with the Jocelyn Pook Ensemble to perform

Pookrsquos Anxiety Fanfare and Variations at Nottingham

Contemporary later this week

The piece which was commissioned by the Mental Health

Foundation and premiered at the Wigmore Hall as part of

the Anxiety Arts Festival London 2014 is a musical

exploration of everyday mental health disorders written in

five movements more

Record numbers of students are beginning university this

term making the big emotional step of a new

independent life with many living away from home for

the first time But there are warnings of rising numbers of

students struggling to cope with life on campus with

sharp rises in the demand for counselling And there are

questions about whether universities are providing

enough support for emotional and mental health

problems more

People with mental health issues should be more involved

in running the services they use a group representing NHS

managers has recommended Helen Birtwhistle the

external affairs director at the NHS Confederation said

service users were best placed to tell health service bosses

where improvements needed to be made more

We are all in this

together

We are all in this together I understand how you feel

I have been there

Who can say that

Who cant

Vote for real people or just be Real

Before people can be educated

someone needs to understand

Experience is more valuable than facts

Anyone can learn facts Only you have your

experience and your CV can never

describe it

Paedophiles rapists and pig fuckers may be educated

but what do they understand

We are in this together No one understands

By Dave Cox

CARING POLICING SAVING LIVES Hundreds of people kill themselves on Britains rail tracks

each year But training officers to identify and approach

those in danger is helping to save people Last year British

Transport Police estimate 326 people took their lives on

Britains railways nearly one each day To combat this

they launched a new programme that embeds mental-

health care into their police work and repositions the force

as a shepherd into the care system more

STRESSED STUDENTS SEEK HELP

CHOIRrsquoS ACCLAIMED PERFORMANCE

USERS SHOULD RUN THEIR MH SERVICES

Our Bipolar Support Group Members are not just Bipolar but suffer from different mood disorders We support each

other through highs and lows

A choir funded by the Institute of Mental Health is set to

perform a unique piece of music written by an award-

winning composer which aims to reflect the experiences

of living with anxiety day-to-day The Nottingham Peoplersquos

Choir was set up in 2013 to promote mental health and

wellbeing through the joy of singing Open to anyone mdash

whether or not they can sing mdash it aims to foster an

inclusive attitude and meets during the day to meet the

needs of those who are unable to work The choir will be

joining forces with the Jocelyn Pook Ensemble to perform

Pookrsquos Anxiety Fanfare and Variations at Nottingham

Contemporary later this week

The piece which was commissioned by the Mental Health

Foundation and premiered at the Wigmore Hall as part of

the Anxiety Arts Festival London 2014 is a musical

exploration of everyday mental health disorders written in

five movements more

Record numbers of students are beginning university this

term making the big emotional step of a new

independent life with many living away from home for

the first time But there are warnings of rising numbers of

students struggling to cope with life on campus with

sharp rises in the demand for counselling And there are

questions about whether universities are providing

enough support for emotional and mental health

problems more

People with mental health issues should be more involved

in running the services they use a group representing NHS

managers has recommended Helen Birtwhistle the

external affairs director at the NHS Confederation said

service users were best placed to tell health service bosses

where improvements needed to be made more

We are all in this

together

We are all in this together I understand how you feel

I have been there

Who can say that

Who cant

Vote for real people or just be Real

Before people can be educated

someone needs to understand

Experience is more valuable than facts

Anyone can learn facts Only you have your

experience and your CV can never

describe it

Paedophiles rapists and pig fuckers may be educated

but what do they understand

We are in this together No one understands

By Dave Cox

CARING POLICING SAVING LIVES Hundreds of people kill themselves on Britains rail tracks

each year But training officers to identify and approach

those in danger is helping to save people Last year British

Transport Police estimate 326 people took their lives on

Britains railways nearly one each day To combat this

they launched a new programme that embeds mental-

health care into their police work and repositions the force

as a shepherd into the care system more

STRESSED STUDENTS SEEK HELP

CHOIRrsquoS ACCLAIMED PERFORMANCE

USERS SHOULD RUN THEIR MH SERVICES

Our Bipolar Support Group Members are not just Bipolar but suffer from different mood disorders We support each

other through highs and lows

LABOUR BACKS MENTAL HEALTH

Luciana Berger addressed the Labour Party conference as the first ever Shadow Minister for Mental Health last

week Here is what she had to say

ldquoWe rely on the NHS we campaign for the NHS we are the party of the NHS

All of us will fight to our dying breath to defend the NHS and the simple Labour values which underpin it

I would like to thank Nottingham South CLP in particular for their motion which raised mental health and the

impact of Government cuts on mental health services

Mental health has come out of the shadows in recent years Many people including Jo Brand Stephen Fry

Alistair Campbell and some of our parliamentary colleagues have had the courage to speak out about their own

mental health

Slowly the taboo is being broken but ask anyone with a mental illness and theyrsquoll tell you that they still face

stigma discrimination and prejudice

One in four of us will have a mental illness at some point in our lives Yet tens of thousands receive the wrong

treatment or do not get any help at all Isnrsquot it shameful that those hit hardest are children and young people

Conference it is a national scandal that the biggest killer of men aged 15-49 in our country is suicide

Yet David Cameron and his ministers despite their fine words about lsquoparity of esteemrsquo between mental and

physical health are presiding over a service in crisis People with mental illness are waiting months and months

just to get an appointment or are having to travel hundreds of miles for a bed Instead of getting the decent

local NHS care they need and deserve

Care like that which is provided by the amazing team at Mill View Hospital here in Brighton which I had the

privilege of visiting this morning

The Labour Party is putting mental health centre stage

I stand before you today as the first ever Shadow Minister for Mental Health

This role that Jeremy has created is not just confined to the NHS

We know that mental health is a cross-cutting issue It needs a cross-cutting response in our communities in

our schools and our workplaces

For the young girl with an eating disorder

For the pensioner suffering from loneliness

For the veteran affected from post-traumatic stress

Irsquom keen to work with patients health professionals campaigners councillors and trade unionists to do two

things

One ndash to hold this Tory Government to account for their broken promises on mental health

And two to develop a world-class mental health programme to be implemented by the next Labour

Governmentrdquo

ldquoLetrsquos join together in this fightrdquo

ROYALS SPOTLIGHT WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will mark World

Mental Health Day by attending an event hosted by the

charity Mind

The royal couple will meet young people who have

overcome their own mental health problems and now

volunteer with the charity They will also learn about the

campaign to eradicate the stigma surrounding mental

health Time to Change which raises awareness among

teenagers

Working to build understanding of mental health

problems particularly in young people is a key priority

for both the Duke and Duchess Earlier this year the

Duchess recorded a short message to promote the first

Childrenrsquos Mental Health Week as part of her work as

patron for the charity Place2Be

Last month she visited the Anna Freud Centre in London a childrens mental health research training and

treatment charity and the Duke recently took part in an anti-bullying workshop run by the Diana Awards

charity more

PRINCE HARRY CALLS FOR BETTER APPROACH TO MENTAL HEALTH

More work is needed to banish the stigma around mental illness and offer support to its sufferers says Prince

Harry He spoke out as he joined injured battle veterans trekking the length of Britain on their own personal

roads to recovery

The Prince is patron of the Walking with the Wounded and was lending his support to a six-strong team of

former soldiers and marines who have taken on the arduous 1000-mile journey dubbed the Walk of Britain

He has previously spoken of the very difficult transition former service personnel need to make into civilian

life particularly for those who carry the often unseen scars and burdens of war Asked whether there was

enough support for former soldiers coping with mental illness he said Yes of course we need to do more not

just with these guys but with everybody

Mental health is a sensitive subject among a lot of people but it

doesnt need to be I think we need to talk about it more get rid of the

stigma and what better people to bring that to the forefront than these

guys because they are mentally strong and are willing to talk about it

Harry said he had been hugely looking forward to joining the team on

their formidable challenge Among them is Alec Robotham a 29-year-

old former Royal Marine who was blown up by a suicide bomber in

Afghanistan in 2010 leaving him with arm and leg injuries

The full force of the blast detonated just a metre away was taken by

his backpack radio which he believes saved him from more serious

harm

He welcomed Harrys presence on the walk where the pair had been

engaging in every-day chat about military life

American Andrew Bement aged 32 served two tours in Iraq in the space of 18 months and a further tour in

Afghanistan with the United State Marine Corps leaving him coping with post-traumatic stress disorder

(PTSD)

He welcomed the fact the group had had just five days of rain over the past six weeks

Of the Prince he said Hes very passionate about what were doing and what he does

ROYALS SPOTLIGHT WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will mark World

Mental Health Day by attending an event hosted by the

charity Mind

The royal couple will meet young people who have

overcome their own mental health problems and now

volunteer with the charity They will also learn about the

campaign to eradicate the stigma surrounding mental

health Time to Change which raises awareness among

teenagers

Working to build understanding of mental health

problems particularly in young people is a key priority

for both the Duke and Duchess Earlier this year the

Duchess recorded a short message to promote the first

Childrenrsquos Mental Health Week as part of her work as

patron for the charity Place2Be

Last month she visited the Anna Freud Centre in London a childrens mental health research training and

treatment charity and the Duke recently took part in an anti-bullying workshop run by the Diana Awards

charity more

PRINCE HARRY CALLS FOR BETTER APPROACH TO MENTAL HEALTH

More work is needed to banish the stigma around mental illness and offer support to its sufferers says Prince

Harry He spoke out as he joined injured battle veterans trekking the length of Britain on their own personal

roads to recovery

The Prince is patron of the Walking with the Wounded and was lending his support to a six-strong team of

former soldiers and marines who have taken on the arduous 1000-mile journey dubbed the Walk of Britain

He has previously spoken of the very difficult transition former service personnel need to make into civilian

life particularly for those who carry the often unseen scars and burdens of war Asked whether there was

enough support for former soldiers coping with mental illness he said Yes of course we need to do more not

just with these guys but with everybody

Mental health is a sensitive subject among a lot of people but it

doesnt need to be I think we need to talk about it more get rid of the

stigma and what better people to bring that to the forefront than these

guys because they are mentally strong and are willing to talk about it

Harry said he had been hugely looking forward to joining the team on

their formidable challenge Among them is Alec Robotham a 29-year-

old former Royal Marine who was blown up by a suicide bomber in

Afghanistan in 2010 leaving him with arm and leg injuries

The full force of the blast detonated just a metre away was taken by

his backpack radio which he believes saved him from more serious

harm

He welcomed Harrys presence on the walk where the pair had been

engaging in every-day chat about military life

American Andrew Bement aged 32 served two tours in Iraq in the space of 18 months and a further tour in

Afghanistan with the United State Marine Corps leaving him coping with post-traumatic stress disorder

(PTSD)

He welcomed the fact the group had had just five days of rain over the past six weeks

Of the Prince he said Hes very passionate about what were doing and what he does

OPPORTUNITIES SUPPORT amp TRAINING

The next Bipolar Support Group meeting will have a guest speaker talk about Access to Psychological Therapies

JOCKEYrsquoS HELPLINE Britainrsquos jockeys are to benefit from a dedicated mental

health helpline bringing them into line with their colleagues

in cricket rugby and other sports The service for members

of the Professional Jockeys Association is being operated by

LPP one of the countryrsquos leading organisations dedicated to

mental health wellbeing and people performance The 24-

hour-a-day welfare helpline is being funded by Great British

Racing which pledged pound25000 as part of the Stobart Flat

Jockeysrsquo Championship which was launched earlier this year

more

Liverpool will celebrate World Mental Health Day on

Saturday 10th October with a programme of events more

extensive and varied than those offered in any other city in

the UK The activities range from music performance and

debates to film training advice and information Now in its

6th year and organised by Liverpool Mental Health

Consortium one of the most popular events in our World

Mental Health Day programme has proved to be the art

exhibition more

An American study that sought to determine how race and

gender influence depression found that white men are more

likely to experience depression associated with stressful life

events than black men or women of any race White men

are also known to be at high risk for suicide The Centre for

Disease Control and Prevention reports that white men have

the highest suicide rates of any demographic accounting

for 70 percent of all suicides committed in the United

States in 2013 The results are surprising given that there

remains a clear health gap between black and white

communities in which black people fare worse on almost

every health concern from hypertension to HIV transmission

rates more

Scotlandrsquos most famous railway station is to host an

interactive art project aiming make mental health an easier

topic for conversation On 3 October the Conversations for

Change team made up of artists and people with first-hand

experience of mental health conditions will take over

Platform two of the Capitalrsquos Waverley Train Station

Between 12pm and 6pm people coming going or waiting

on the platform will be invited to take part in a conversation

about mental health more

RACE amp GENDER INFLUENCE MH

WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY

TRAIN STATION TAKE OVER Things Said

MOVEMENT FOR GLOBAL MENTAL HEALTH 4th Global Mental Health Summit - TISS Campus Mumbai India 28th and 29th November 2015

The focus of this yearrsquos summit is ldquoNothing About Us Without Usrdquo and the event will be mainly attended by people living with mental health issues The aim is to bring to the forefront voices of individuals from marginalized backgrounds rarely represented in discussions on the mental health agenda The event will include scientific and non-scientific sessions theatre short films music dance and other art

For further information contact gmhs2015tissedu Download the Registration and Submission Forms

Facts amp Figures Parents concerned about their babiesrsquo mental health need to

be aware there are severe risks in the use of mental health

drugs and infants The drugs carry warnings such as

hallucinations delusions mania psychosis aggression

suicidal thoughts and more Babiesrsquo mental health is an entire

revenue source for prescribing doctors and for pharmaceutical

companies Yet parents are nearly never told of the true

harms that these drugs carry Nor are they told of the fact that

traditional non-mental health doctors can perform medical

tests to evidence what physical ailment is causing the

unwanted behaviour in the infant toddler child and even

adult In an article from the Wall Street Journal titled ldquoWhy

Are So Many Toddlers Taking Psychiatric Drugsrdquo it is cited

that in 2013 that ldquoover 274000 infants (0-1 year olds) and

some 370000 toddlers (1-3 years age) in the US were on anti

anxiety Xanax) and antidepressant (Prozac) drugs This report

also found that over 1400 infants were on ADHD drugsrdquo

Additionally in 2014 The New York Times published the figure

of over 10000 toddlers on ADHD drugs The article continues

to shock the reader by reporting that children going to doctorrsquos

offices for the diagnosis of bipolar disorder had risen 40 fold

over the past decade

httpwwwmentalhealthrightsorgbabies-mental-health

Todayrsquos Humour

One evening a Husband thinking he was

being funny said to his wife lsquoPerhaps we

should start washing your clothes in lsquoSlim

Fastrsquo Maybe it would take a few inches off

of your behindrsquo

His wife was not amused and decided that

she simply couldnrsquot let such a comment go

unrewarded

The next morning the husband took a pair of

underwear out of his drawer lsquoWhat the

Heck is thisrsquo he said to himself as a little

lsquodustrsquo cloud appeared when he shook them

out

lsquoAprilrsquo he yelled into the bathroom lsquoWhy did

you put Talcum Powder in my underwearrsquo

She replied with a snicker lsquoItrsquos not talcum

powder itrsquos lsquoMiracle Growrsquo

Email us to

subscribe or

find us on

FREE SCHOOL MEALS CONCERN

DONT BLAME KARMA

Subscribe to our newsletter by emailing barnetbipolargroupgmailcom

Young people who are not in education employment or

training (NEET) are committed to working but vulnerable to

experiencing mental health problems according to a new

study by researchers from the Institute of Psychiatry

Psychology amp Neuroscience at Kingrsquos College London Duke

University and the University of California The current

generation of young people faces the worst job prospects in

decades yet previous research into how NEET youths feel

about their own prospects and how unemployment affects

their mental health is scarce more

If you tend to blame karma for illness chances of you having

poor physical and mental health are higher suggests a new

study In general the more religious or spiritual you are the

healthier you are which makes sense according to Brick

Johnstone neuropsychologist and professor of health

psychology at University of Missouri in the US But when

individuals believe they are ill because they have done

something wrong and God is punishing them their health

worsens more

Everyone is depressed in Gaza Itrsquos all a matter of degree

Suicide is on the rise despite the fact that it is forbidden in

Islam There is at least one every day a dramatic change

from 20 years ago when there might be one every few years

Especially since the summer attack by Israel last year there

has been a huge increase The quality of mental-health care

in Gaza is highly variable more

MENTAL HEALTH IN GAZA

Scrapping free school meals for infants would be short-

sighted because the scheme could help alleviate the obesity

crisis a group of leading doctors has warned The claim

made in a letter to the Sunday Times comes amid reports

the Government is considering dropping the policy which was

introduced last September by the coalition Professor

Baroness Hollins a former president of the British Medical

Association and Dr Nigel Carter chief executive of the British

Dental Health Foundation are among 40 leading figures

calling for the meals to be protected from cuts more

UNEMPLOYMENT TAKES ITS TOLL

Mental health is an issue which is rightly getting a lot of

attention in the media and in government right now The

addition of a Minister of Mental Health to the Labour

shadow cabinet is indicative of a cultural shift wersquore

finally placing the emphasis on mental health which the

country sorely needs Research conducted by the

Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development saw a

huge rise in the number of employees who reported

mental health problems more

Email us at barnetbipolargroupgmailcom

to subscribe or find us as Barnet and North London Bipolar

Self Help Support

Confused about BENEFIT ENTITLEMENT

Know the difference between DLA PIP Universal Credit ESA housing benefit and discretionary

hardship hellipand how to challenge decisions

If you need help in any way with benefits Contact SOCIAL WELFARE TRAINING

60 Strathmore Road Horfield Bristol BS7 9QJ or email wwwsocialwelfaretrainingcouk

For a free colour 20152016 benefit rates poster send an A4 stamped addressed envelope with pound074 postage and

your email address choosing A2 or A3 size poster

Subscribe to the free Benefits Newsletter through our website

MoneySavingExpertcom ldquoNo debt problems are unsolvablerdquo

Martin Lewis is a household name for his maverick

money saving skills and advice and now hersquos turned his

attention to mental health amp debt You can download

his excellent free guide from

wwwMoneySavingExpertcommentalhealth

DIGITAL THERAPY NEEDS REFINING

Find all of our newsletters and meetings on barnetbipolargroupcouk

According to a new report by the Mental Welfare

Commission emergency detentions for older people

have seen a sharp rise while children with mental ill-

health are increasingly not put in specialist wards

Compulsory treatment for mental ill-health also rose last

year by seven per cent bringing the number of new

episodes to its highest level since 2005 with 4851

episodes recorded in 2014-15 more

SCOTS MH TREATMENT SOARS

A large body of clinical research shows that web-based

and phone applications can treat depression and anxiety

These applications mdash called behavioural intervention

technologiesmdash differ in style from traditional face-to-face

forms of therapy but the aim is the same to help people

understand their difficulties and take steps to reduce

symptoms more

A mind-altering drug called ketamine is changing the

way some doctors treat depression Encouraged by

research showing that ketamine can relieve even the

worst depression in a matter of hours these doctors are

giving the drug to some of their toughest patients And

theyre doing this even though ketamine lacks any

professional approval for treating depression Thousands

of depressed patients have received off-label

treatment with ketamine more

KETAMINE GAINS

INCREASE IN ISSUES AT WORK

Benefits Bob

The Welfare Weasel

No welfare benefit launched in the last few years has

generated as much interest as many column

centimetres or garnered as much web real estate as

ESA This has been the most talked about benefit for

some time Are you up to speed If not you may well

miss out Enhance your opportunity to your rightful

entitlements via wwwbenefitsandworkcouk

E-CIGARETTES QUESTIONED

SLEEP-DEPRIVATION CONCERNS

NEW LIMITS ON DETENTION

NEGATIVE SPIRITUAL BELIEFS

CPD Courses and Training for

Mental Health Practitioners

Psychiatrists and Psychologists

Click here for a list of all mental health conferences

and masterclasses

FOR MORE INFO PHONE 01932 429933

wwwselfinjurysupportcouk

Womenrsquos Self Injury Helpline 0808 800 8088

Tues amp Wed 7-10pm amp Thurs 3-6pm

This is an anonymous non-judgemental listening and signposting service

TESS national text amp email support for young

women up to 24 Sun to Fri 7-9pm I Text 07800

472908 I Email use link on our website

New rights for people who are detained under section 136

of the Mental Health Act by the police are being put forward

by the government Under the proposals people with

suspected mental health issues detained under section 136

should be assessed within three hours and not be held in

police custody for more than 12 hours Updating and

revising the code is an important part of ensuring peoplersquos

rights are protected when detained more

Negative spirituality or believing that God is punishing one

for a transgression is associated with poor mental and

physical health suggests a new study University of

Missouri researchers discovered that when individuals

blame a spiritual force for their poor health they have

more pain and worse physical and mental health more

The evidence underpinning a report on the use of e-

cigarettes that endorses their use as an effective smoking

cessation aid has been questioned in an analysis that

suggests that many of the claims supporting e-cigarettes

lack independence The analysis published on September

15th in the British Medical Journal notes that the debate

over the harms and benefits of e-cigarettes has yet to be

settled inasmuch as their safety and effectiveness has not

been established more

Children who sleep badly have an increased chance of

developing mental-health problems such as depression

anxiety and eating disorders new research has found Poor

sleepers are also more likely than other children to end up

abusing drugs or alcohol or indulging in risk-taking

behaviour according to academics from Goldsmiths

University of London and Tel Aviv University more

Find all of our newsletters and meetings on barnetbipolargroupcouk

Barnet Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust will be holding a Quality Account Stakeholder

event in the afternoon of 28th October 2015

in the Lincoln Room Chase Farm Hospital

It will be an opportunity to receive feedback on the Quality Account published in June to

look at half-year results and begin discussions on identifying next yearrsquos improvement priorities

The event is open to anyone interested

Dietary changes that reduce the incidence of and prevent

mental health disorders are a cost-effective and efficacious

means of improving mental health urges a position

statement that sets out a series of recommendations to

advance nutritional medicine in psychiatry The International

Society for Nutritional Psychiatry Research emphasizes that

there is epidemiologic basic scientific and clinical evidence

to show that diet both influences risk for and outcomes of

mental health disorders more

DIET CHANGE KEY TO BETTER MH

NHS BOSS WANTS MORE PREVENTION

Democratic and Republican lawmakers alike offered

thoughts and prayers for the victims and family members

of the Oregon massacre last week but a visibly upset

president Barak Obama said that was not sufficient

Nodding to the arguments that such shootings are often

committed by the mentally ill Obama said it was clear that

anyone who commits such crimes had a sickness in their

minds But we are not the only country on Earth who has

people with mental illnesses who want to do harm to other

people he said We are the only advanced country on

Earth who sees these kinds of mass shootings every few

months The president referenced shootings

in Australia and Britain that led to reforms that largely

stopped such massacres there and blamed the National

Rifle Association for the failure to change gun laws in

America more

Find all of our newsletters and meetings on barnetbipolargroupcouk

Sir Chris Hoy let his arms rather than his legs do the work

as he started a climb to launch a mental health initiative

Britains most successful Olympian was at Edinburghs

International Climbing Arena to support the charity

SAMHs Give Mental Health a Sporting Chance

programme The project aims to champion the use of

physical activity and sport as a way of improving and

maintaining good mental health and wellbeing Over the

next year the charity aims to develop a Mental Health

Charter for Sport more

Assessing people with suspected mental health problems

more quickly when they are held by police has been

proposed Ministers want to ensure people are assessed

within three hours and held no longer than 12 hours

compared to the current legal limit of 72 hours Health

Minister Mark Drakeford said the code of practice needed

updating and revising to protect peoples rights more

An NHS boss says wersquore not making the most of our third

sector in the face of financial challenges With

pound54million of savings needed by April next year

Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Chief

Executive Claire Molloy admits she faces a bleak future

with less and less resources up against ever increasing

standards Vital changes must now be made before the

money dries up but Molloy says a shift to more

preventative work could ease the huge financial impact

that crisis care brings upon the trust more

DETENTION TIME LIMIT PLAN

HOY LAUNCHES SPORTS INITIATIVE

SICK MINDS URGE GUN CONTROL

Video of the week

THIS IS CRAZY CRIMINALIZING MENTAL HEALTH

httpswwwyoutubecomwatcht=465ampv=18ZhCxEVaqI

Click on the link to sign the petition to stop the criminalization of mental health

It is no secret that there is an ongoing mental health crisis in the UK right now

There have been numerous instances of people dying in custody having been detained in

police cells due to a lack of hospital beds and proper facilities where the mentally ill can

be accommodated So too have there been consistent cuts to mental health services

vital itrsquos claimed for maintaining and improving the mental health of the nation

A recent finding from an enquiry into the growing pressures on GPs specifically those

working in London compounds the view that mental health services are at breaking

point In a message to MPs responding to the enquiry GPrsquos spoke of how their surgeries

in London are struggling and becoming increasingly unable to cope with the ever growing

demand for mental health services

As the need for appointments is increasing doctors are working as hard as possible to

meet this rising demand but are being constricted by what they can do claiming they are

lsquobeset by blockagesrsquo to the vital services they require The drastic cuts to services are

credited with increasing number of patients in need slipping through the net as far as

treatment is concerned

Those cuts are seen by the medical profession as ldquoreckless and short-sightedrdquo especially

the reduction in community support services in such as health visitors mental health

services and social services which inevitably leads to overworked and overwhelmed GPs -

and to the tell-tale signs of patients not getting the treatment they need

GPs also end up having more consultations less time to spend with each patient and

patients waiting much longer for appointments Everybody gets a worse deal Too many

GPs and practice nurses in London are running on empty trying to manage these rises in

demandrsquo It is also not only doctorrsquos surgeries and hospital wards where the strain is

being felt Schools in particular have also been detrimentally affected by the new scarcity

of resources

Headmasters have previously expressed their dismay at the failings of CAMHS - Child and

Adolescent Mental Health Services - the service which schools use to support pupils and

refer pupils on to specialist services This is particularly concerning at a time when

children and young people are experiencing mental health issues in particular anxiety in

record numbers It is well known that mental health problems in early life in particular

anxiety if not dealt with properly can manifest themselves into far greater problems later

in life

This all serves to nurture the belief that there is a gathering storm around mental health

finances one which we may well soon be in the eye of What can be done to avert the

storm What will be done and what can we hope for Watch this space

by Ciaran OBrien

A GATHERING STORM

COMMENT

THE MOON AND OUR MOODS

FEATURE

So much research has been done regarding the lunar effect and whatever your belief may be regarding

it Irsquom going to share a little of my experience the Super Blood Moon Eclipse many of us witnessed last

week

We havenrsquot had one of those since 1982 and wonrsquot see one again until 2033 It is a sight to behold

Google some of the links on the world wide web and familiarise yourself with a few of the studies done

They are fascinating

When I worked in an extended care facility you could ask anyone who worked there from nurses to

doctors on call all the way to our maintenance staff and everyone in between when the next full moon

was and they would tell you what day fell three days before

Why We all knew without a doubt that three days before the full moon was when our residentsrsquo home

was about to start getting very loud very busy and very hectic And it was also when staff injuries were

on the rise

I worked in a locked ward with residents who lived with dementia Sometimes during a full moon we

called in extra staff because things got odd quickly I loved my job but the shifts during the full moon

were always a challenge

Do I believe in the lunar effect Absolutely You know Murphyrsquos Law That applied on every single full

moon We were prepared but never prepared enough Ask any nurse or ER doctor if they believe that a

full moon affects people and nine times out of ten they most certainly will say lsquoYesrsquo

Have you ever had the misfortune of being in an ER during a full moon I cycle with the seasons but I

do notice subtle shifts with the moon Maybe because I am so aware of how others are affected

because of the work I did for so long

Some people believe that there is a lot of energy out there and in a lunar eclipse that energy can affect

us Do you think the full moon or something as significant as an eclipse in particular has any effect on

your moods or is it all just hocus pocus

by Nicole Lyons

HOW HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE BROKE DOWN MENTAL HEALTH

COMMENT

Jeremy Corbyns creation of a ministerial post dedicated to mental health was welcome and long overdue Here

are some of the problems facing mental health services in the UK and what can be done

At the mental health charity Mindrsquos conference last week the newly appointed shadow minister for mental

health Luciana Berger described how the good will that UK mental health services have been running on for

years is ebbing away

Since the Health and Social Care Act introduced the concept of lsquoparity of esteemrsquo between mental and physical

health care in 2012 there has been a widening gap between the rhetoric and reality of this supposed equality

This is because the very same legislation also fragmented all aspects of the health service so that access to

mental health care is as the panel put it lsquoalmost non-existentrsquo for many people

Because there are now so many bodies involved in administrating healthcare it is difficult for decisions or

changes to be made expediently The Health and Social Care Act disrupted what is known as the lsquopatient

pathwayrsquo ndash the route a patient takes between first GP contact and the completion of their treatment in

whichever department they need for their condition

Because the HSC Act introduced competition into the NHS there is now a mix of providers including private

ones This has led to the pathway becoming increasingly convoluted and made it difficult to trace accountability

So while the National Commissioning Board is responsible for commissioning primary care community and

hospital services are commissioned by a variety of clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) supported by a

commissioning support service Sound confusing It is and it is damaging standards of care

York Central MP Rachel Maskell gives the example of Bootham Park Psychiatric Hospital in York which has just

been ordered to close In 2014 inspectors found a number of serious problems with the facilities not least a

prominent old sign reading lsquoLunatic Asylumrsquo

Inspectors found ligature points and doors which could be barred presenting serious suicide risks Inspectors

ordered urgent improvements but when they returned found these had not been made partly because there are

so many different bodies involved in the running of the hospital the decision-making process slows to a halt

Fragmentation also means that it is incredibly difficult for someone with a mental health problem to lsquoget inrsquo to

the system to begin treatment GPs may be unsure which services are available locally leading patients to lsquofall

throughrsquo the gaps passed off as lsquotoo severersquo lsquonot severe enoughrsquo or not fitting age criteria

Somebody in crisis who has been hospitalised will be given the emergency treatment they need But this will

often be followed up by a year-long wait to see a counsellor putting peoplersquos lives on hold leading to relapses

job losses and worse

The lack of integration of services also means a patientrsquos treatment is often left to the discretion of the first

point of contact Some GPs will put medication at the centre of treatment plans whereas others are more likely

to prescribe a lsquotalking curersquo There needs to be integration of these services so that nobody misses out on

receiving the treatment most suitable for them

Of course long waiting lists are also down to a lack of funding Under the coalition there was a pound50 million

cut to childrenrsquos mental health services and a loss of 3300 specialist mental health nurses and 1500 mental

health beds

Research by the charity Young Minds found that over one in in five local authorities have either frozen or cut

their CAMHS budgets every year since 2010

Despite a government pledge to increase spending on mental health freedom of information requests made by

Labour earlier this year suggested that 50 of the 130 CCGs who responded plan to reduce the proportion of the

budget they spend on mental health for 201516

The Conservatives have yet to practice the parity of esteem they preached This is an opportunity for Labour to

step up and show they still understand healthcare as a system that

prioritises patients not market competition

by Ruby Stockham

Please forward this newsletter to anyone that may be interested It is free and we always welcome new readers

World Mental Health Day talk by Eleanor Longden

World Mental Health Day is the annual global celebration of mental health education awareness and advocacy Every year on 10 October we join together in shining the spotlight on a particular aspect of mental ill health University College London students are invited to come and hear Eleanor Longden speak at a Student Disability Services event as part of World Mental Health Day Eleanor is an award-winning psychology postgraduate who uses her own experiences of recovery from psychosis to promote more creative person-centred approaches to complex mental health problems that emphasise the lived experience and expertise of individuals more fully She has published books and held keynotes including events for the World Health Organisation the Edinburgh International Book Festival the American Psychological Association the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the British Psychological Society

Eleanor held in 2013 a TED talk on voice hearing named by the Guardian as one of ldquothe 20 Online Talks That Could Change Your Liferdquo In its first year online it was viewed 25m times and translated into 33 languages

WHEN Wednesday 7 October 2015 from 2 pm ndash 3 pm WHERE Christopher Ingold XLG2 Auditorium UCL HOW MUCH FREE but you must register advance on the event page FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT David Walmsley dwalmsleyioeacuk Tel 020 7612 6604

WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY 2015

Joining organisations all over the world including the World Federation of Mental Health and the World Health Organisation were raising awareness of what can be done to ensure that people with mental health problems can live with dignity

We believe that effectively supporting people experiencing mental health problems is on target to become one of the greatest public health challenges of our time Stigmatising and discriminatory treatment can be particularly distressing when a person is experiencing a health crisis We all have mental health and by failing to treat people with mental health problems with dignity we make it more difficult to ensure that everyone takes steps to safeguard their wellbeing and to seek help as it can lead to self-stigma low confidence low self-esteem withdrawal and social isolation How can I get involved Hold a Tea amp Talk to celebrate World Mental Health Day or whenever you want to raise awareness of mental health and funds for our work All you have to do is get together a group of friends family or colleagues put the kettle on and invite them to make a donation to the Mental Health Foundation - itrsquos as simple as that

Get the latest on World Mental Health Day by signing up to our newsletter here More information on mental health in our A-Z of mental health or browse our

publications here

Please forward this newsletter to anyone that may be interested It is free and we always welcome new readers

NOT TO BE IGNORED

Yes itrsquos World mental Health Day this Saturday and already mental health organisations around the

world are turning it into Mental Health Week ndash which makes it a bit crowded on those of us who

celebrate Schizophrenia Awareness Week between 4-11 October 2015 ndash a week in which we will be

challenging stigma campaigning for change and raising vital funds

Itrsquos the third year running that Rethink Mental Illness is running Schizophrenia Awareness Week which

aims to raise awareness of schizophrenia schizoaffective disorder and psychosis

1 in 100 people in the UK experience schizophrenia - thats about the same number as experience

epilepsy But despite the fact that this is a pretty common illness its also one of the most

misunderstood People who live with the condition often experience discrimination and a long wait for

the right help

Were fighting to change this To start to change the public conversation we invited four people who

have lived experience of schizophrenia schizoaffective disorder or psychosis to share their stories in

an inspiring video to be released this week

Support Schizophrenia Awareness Week by joining our Thunderclap which is when lots of people sign

up to make the same social media post at the same time The process is automated so you donrsquot

have to worry about remembering to post Itrsquos a quick and easy way to show your support and raise

awareness Click on join this Thunderclap to take part

Bake it off

Want a tastier way to get involved People around the country are putting their pinnies on and hosting

their own LetsRethink tea parties The aim is to raise funds and awareness by having a good chat

and selling something scrumptious in aid of Rethink Mental Illness

To help you get the most from your tea party weve developed a fantastic pack full of recipes

fundraising games and even cake toppers Order yours for free and if you really want to cook up a

storm in style you can even order a fantastic LetsRethink apron to wear on the day

Share the knowledge

There are some common myths about schizophrenia which are really unhelpful to people who are

affected by the condition This Schizophrenia Awareness Week why not give a talk write a blog or

share your experience For extra myth-busting power refer to our factsheets

on schizophreniaschizoaffective disorder and psychosis httpwwwrethinkorgnews-

views201509schizophrenia-awareness-week-is-coming

USEFUL CONTACT NUMBERS

A amp E Barnet General Hospital 0845 111 4000 Access to Psychological Therapies 020 8951 2172 Alcoholicrsquos Anonymous 0207 833 0022 Barnet Asian Womenrsquos Association 020 8368 3077 Barnet Bipolar Self Help support group 020 8440 4364 Barnet Carers Centre 0208 343 9698 Barnet Centre for Independent Living 020 8359 2444 Barnet Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Team 0208 702 4040 Barnet Depression Alliance 0754 118 7907 Barnet Doctor out of hours 111 Barnet Enfield amp Haringey Mental Health Trust 0208 702 3000 Barnet Homes 020 8359 4821 Barnet Multilingual Wellbeing Service 020 8732 6655 Barnet amp Southgate College 020 8275 7563 Barnet Triage Service Edgware community Hospital 0208 702 5000 Barnet Voice for Mental Health 020 8906 7506 Beating Bipolar 0209 2074 2038 Benefits Bob the Welfare Weasel 01727 851809 Dennis Scott Unit Edgware Community Hospital 020 8702 4250 Department of Works amp PensionsJob Centre advice 020 8359 4244 Eating disorders 07962 392908 Eclipse Mental health and wellbeing service 020 3092 4071 Edgware Community hospital 0208 952 2381 EMU Enfield Mental Health Users Group 020 8366 6560 Gamblers Anonymous 020 7384 3040 Haringey Crisis Resolution amp Home Treatment Service 020 8702 6700 Haringey Mental Health Services 020 8885 9330 Mind In Barnet 020 8343 5700 Mind in Enfield 020 8887 1480 Mind in Haringey 020 8340 2474 Narcotics Anonymous 0300 999 1212 Overeaters Anonymous 07000 784985 Samaritans 08457 90 90 90 Springwell Centre Barnet General Hospital 0208 702 4575 Volunteer Centre 020 8364 8400

BARNET MENTAL HEALTH NEWS is published by FORWARD a non profit mental health social enterprise Contributors to this issue - Bob Houlston with Associate Editors Farida Rahman Claire Newton Nadiege Abolian and Jonathan Ashby BARNET MENTAL HEALTH NEWS is an original unique independent weekly news and information on line and in print newspaper Beware of imitations If you wish to reproduce our content please give our publication credit where itrsquos due Legal rights apply All expressions published are personal non-commercial opinions of the authors and do not represent any commitment This newsletter is independent of the statutory services This is not a commercial newspaper and is intended solely for informational purposes and not a substitute for medical evaluation treatment or consultation Individuals with medical or personal problems are strongly urged to seek advice from physicians or mental health professionals Readers interested in medical advice or treatment must consult a licensed practitioner No doctor-patient relationship is created through the use of this newsletter

• THE MINDFULNESS BANDWAGON
• Mental health patients in Herts had to travel up to 180 miles for a bed because a lack of money has led to a shortage in the county The Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust ndash which manages mental health services ndash has revealed the number of
• CHEEKY IRISH MH CALENDAR
• REFERRAL BACKLOG CUT
• HOW TO BATTLE FEELING SAD
• INDIArsquoS POOR SUICIDE RECORD
• ISSUES HARD TO TALK ABOUT
• Come and celebrate with us at
• Depala Centre
• Church Lane East Finchley N2 8DR
• 11 am ndash 4 pm stands stalls information refreshments fun amp games astrology and entertainment
• to be opened by
• The Mayor of Barnet Mayor Mark Shooter
• at the
• Misty Moon
• USERS SHOULD RUN THEIR MH SERVICES
• LABOUR BACKS MENTAL HEALTH
• KETAMINE GAINS
• Children who sleep badly have an increased chance of developing mental-health problems such as depression anxiety and eating disorders new research has found Poor sleepers are also more likely than other children to end up abusing drugs or alcohol
• E-CIGARETTES QUESTIONED
• DIET CHANGE KEY TO BETTER MH
• Negative spirituality or believing that God is punishing one for a transgression is associated with poor mental and physical health suggests a new study University of Missouri researchers discovered that when individuals blame a spiritual force fo
• NHS BOSS WANTS MORE PREVENTION
• A GATHERING STORM
• THE MOON AND OUR MOODS
• HOW HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE BROKE DOWN MENTAL HEALTH
• World Mental Health Day talk by Eleanor Longden
• WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY 2015
• • Joining organisations all over the world including the World Federation of Mental Health and the World Health Organisation were raising awareness of what can be done to ensure that people with mental health problems can live with dignity
  • • NOT TO BE IGNORED
    • NOT TO BE IGNORED
    • Yes itrsquos World mental Health Day this Saturday and already mental health organisations around the world are turning it into Mental Health Week ndash which makes it a bit crowded on those of us who celebrate Schizophrenia Awareness Week between 4-11 Octob
    • Itrsquos the third year running that Rethink Mental Illness is running Schizophrenia Awareness Week which aims to raise awareness of schizophrenia schizoaffective disorder and psychosis