
The Word on Wellbeing
By Meridian Wellbeing


Episode 26 - Measles and the Importance of Vaccinations
In this special episode, we speak with Bhavita Vishram, Senior Public Health Strategist, Barnet Council; Dr Farah Josephs, Senior Health Ambassador, Groundwork London; and Tanya Brazza, Practice Nurse and Immunisation Educator about the Measles outbreak affecting North London and other parts of the UK, how to protect yourself and your family, and the importance of getting vaccinated.
You can find out more about Measles and the vaccinations discussed in this episode on the NHS's website:

Episode 25 - Fit and Active Barnet
In this episode, we speak with Annalisa Cellini from Fit and Active Barnet about the work being done in Barnet to help people be active, the benefits of activity on our wellbeing, and the discounted memberships available to Barnet residents.

Episode 24 - supporting people with substance addictions with Change Grow Live
In this episode, we speak with Mark Crawley from Change Grow Live about substance addiction and the work being done in Barnet to support people on their recovery journey.

Episode 23 - Cllr Sara Conway & International Women's Day 2026
In this episode, we speak with Cllr Sara Conway, a councillor for the Burnt Oak ward in Barnet and Barnet Council's Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Community Cohesion, and Ending Violence Against Women & Girls. We discuss International Women's Day, the responsibilities of a cabinet member, and the measures being taken by Barnet Council and its partners to prevent violence against women and girls.

Episode 22 - Counselling and CBT Therapy
In this episode, we speak with Melissa Powenski, a CBT therapist and mental health nurse, and Lidia Lee, a therapist and a counselling psychologist trainee, about the different types of therapy, how it can help people and the key things to be aware of. (apologies, we had a couple of small audio issues during this episode).

Episode 21 - The Live Well Programme
In this episode of The Word on Wellbeing we speak with Dr Louise Miller, GP and Barnet's Live Well Clinical Lead, about the Live Well programme, the value of social prescribing, and we have a surprise appearance by a cuddly canine.

Episode 20 - Barnet Council's Suicide Prevention Strategy
Content Warning - some people may find the subject of this episode distressing. Suicide prevention is an important topic, and the Council’s strategy is focused on saving lives.
In this episode of The Word on Wellbeing, we speak with Seher Kayikci, Senior Public Health Strategist at Barnet Council, about the Council’s new Suicide Prevention Strategy and the work being done in Barnet to support people.

Episode 19 - Andy's Man Club Barnet
Andy's Man Club are a men's suicide prevention charity, offering free to attend peer to peer support groups across the Uk and online. Andy's Man Club want to end the stigma surrounding men's mental health, and help men through the power of conversation #ITSOKTOTALK

Episode 18 - September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
Hosted by Chris Hartley. Chris speaks with John Truong from Meridian Wellbeing, Donna Chan from Meridian Wellbeing, and Michelle Morais from The Network, to have a conversation about suicide prevention awareness month and how we can best support someone through a challenging time.

Episode 17 - Autism and the Pandemic
In this episode, we speak to Emma Cooper and Christine Lesmes from Barnet Mencap about their work supporting individuals with high-functioning autism, the affect of the pandemic on their clients and how businesses can better support autistic individuals.

Episode 16 - Art and Wellbeing
In this episode, we ask the question 'What is Art?' but more importantly we speak to Vicky Martin and Andy Auld of Community Focus about the use of art to improve people's wellbeing and quiz them on their favourite artists.

Episode 15 - The impact of the pandemic on student wellbeing
In this episode, we speak to Vanessa White, Maxi Pacheco and Gabe Berwanger from the University of Middlesex about the impact of the pandemic on students' mental and physical wellbeing and Middlesex University's innovative approach to supporting student wellbeing.

Episode 14 - In conversation with Sir Norman Lamb
In this episode, we speak to Sir Norman Lamb, Chair of the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and former MP and Minister, about his experiences in government, putting people at the heart of mental health treatment, and the need for greater effort to overcome health inequalities.

Episode 13 - Public Health and the Pandemic
In this episode, we speak to Dr Tamara Djuretic, Director of Public Health and Prevention for Barnet Council, and Rory Cooper, Covid-19 Health Champion and Health and Social Care Manager for CommUNITY Barnet, about the work of Barnet's Public Health team, the importance of getting vaccinated and the impact of the pandemic on people's mental health.

Episode 12 - The Barnet COVID-19 Health Champion Project
In this episode, we speak to Izzy Ford, Project Manager for the Barnet COVID-19 Health Champion Project. The Project provides up to date and straightforward information about Covid-19 and the vaccines to volunteers (COVID-19 Health Champions) to share with their families, friends and communities. The aim is ensure that everyone has the information they need to keep themselves and those around them safe. Anyone can become a COVID-19 Health Champion. You can sign up here https://engage.barnet.gov.uk/health-champions.

Episode 11 - The work of local government during the pandemic
In this episode, we speak to Barnet councillor, Alex Prager, about the council's support for businesses and residents, the roll out of the Covid-19 vaccines, and the future of working. Alex represents West Hendon.

Episode 10 - What does a local Councillor do?
In this episode of The Word on Wellbeing, our host Chris Hartley speaks to Arjun Mittra, Councillor for East Finchley and Anne Clarke, Councillor for Childs Hill on how local government works and what councils do, why they became Councillors and being a local representative during the pandemic.

Episode 9 - Socio-economic Inequality and Wellbeing with Professor Richard Wilkinson
In this episode, our host Chris Hartley speaks to Richard Wilkinson, Professor Emeritus of Social Epidemiology at the University of Nottingham and co-author of The Inner Level (2018), about the relationship between socio-economic inequalities and health and wellbeing.

Episode 8 - In Conversation with Sarah Owen MP
In episode 8 of The Word on Wellbeing, Chris Hartley has a wide-ranging discussion with Sarah Owen, the MP for Luton North. We discuss the pandemic, regional divides, health inequalities and the rise in hate crimes.

Episode 7 - Psychology for the Whole Person
In this episode of The Word on Wellbeing, we speak to Dr Anna Mandeville, Consultant Clinical Health Psychologist and Divisional Lead for Psychology and Psychological Therapies for Enfield, with a focus on applying psychological knowledge to improve health and wellbeing, about an approach to psychology that supports the whole person.

Episode 6 - A Collaborative Approach to Supporting Mental Health
In this episode, we spoke to the members of Joint Case Management in Barnet about their collaborative approach to supporting mental health and the case for coordination between statutory bodies and the voluntary and community sector.
This episode's guests were:
Nahida Syed, Senior Wellbeing Navigator, Barnet Wellbeing Hub;
Michelle Morais, Manager, The Network and Adult Safeguarding Lead, London Borough of Barnet;
Mahir Guden, Senior CBT Therapist and Deputy Manager, IAPT.

Episode 5 - The Covid-19 Vaccines
In this episode, we speak to Dr Louise Miller, GP and Mental Health Clinical Lead, about the Covid-19 Vaccines and their role in saving people's lives and fighting Covid-19.

Episode 4 - Peer Support During the Pandemic
In our fourth episode, we speak to Meridian Wellbeing's Peer Support Volunteers in the first half.
In the second half, we speak to Peer Support Volunteer Coordinator Donna Chan about her work and the upcoming activities of the Peer Support Group.

Episode 3 - The Pandemic and Adult Safeguarding
In the third episode of The Word On Wellbeing, Chris Hartley speaks to Fiona Bateman, Chair of the Independent Safeguarding Adults Board (SAB) in Barnet to talk about adult safeguarding, human rights, the pandemic and the world after it.

Episode 2 - The Lockdown and Mental Health Services
In this episode, we spoke to Karen Morrell, Head of Mental Health Services for Adult Social Care at Barnet Council, about the impact of the pandemic on mental health services and local government.

Episode 1 - Life under the Lockdown
In the first episode of our new series, we discuss life under the lockdown, its impact on our wellbeing and the steps we can take to make things a bit easier for ourselves.