One in four at Seder needs your help
AS WE sit down with our families this year to share the traditions of Pesach across the generations, one in four of us around the Seder table will be struggling with our mental health. Today, thousands of people from age 11 to 100-plus rely on Jewish Care and Jami for treatment and support, and for help to care for someone living with mental illness and distress.
Jewish Care and Jami have become one organisation to tackle the unprecedented mental health needs in the community, to ensure our mental health services are sustainable now and in the future and face this growing mental health crisis together.
That’s why the community’s support is so vital this Pesach, so Jewish Care and Jami can continue to deliver these services, including one-to-one and group support in community hubs; individual counselling; group support at Head Room, befriending and Jewish Care’s specialist residential care homes. These services are delivered by multi-skilled teams consisting of social workers, mental health practitioners, occupational therapists and peer support workers, those who use their own lived experience of mental health problems to provide hope and help to others.
Andrew, who runs the hub in Finchley, says: “People feel safe here, they feel like they are part of a big family. We empower people to be their true selves. Volunteers come into the hub to run activities, such as art, writing and music groups, but our hope is that staff can build up hub members to run the groups themselves and grow their confidence to arrange their own social activities together, outside of the hub.”
The aim is to support people to manage their daily lives and integrate back into the wider community. Every Friday, the group meets at a café in Edgware, while monthly Shabbat dinners increase members’ sense of belonging within the community.
Tony has been a regular attendee at the hub for the past year. Having struggled with mental health problems for the past couple of years, he became very low, socially isolated and at a loss about what to do each day. “Coming here has been very good for me,” he says.
“I was very isolated with no one to talk to. I’m still in a state when I come, but having a purpose and support with my mental health really helps. I feel like I’ve really grown to trust everyone and they’re really on my side. Jami have been most helpful and caring.”
For those who find it difficult to live in the community, Jewish Care’s two residential care homes offer life-changing care and support from specialist staff to residents who have mental health needs and require a high level of support to manage their day-to-day lives. At Jewish Care’s Sidney Corob House in West Hampstead and Jack Gardner House in Golders Green, caring staff work to empower residents to develop and maintain daily living skills within a safe environment.
Sandra Saintus, registered manager at Jewish Care’s Sidney Corob House care home, says: “Despite all the challenges the residents face, Sidney Corob House care home is warm and welcoming. It is a very haimishe home. We celebrate Shabbat and festivals and our residents look forward to the Seder on Pesach. “Our homes are full of positivity even when residents don’t feel that way and we do our best as a team to project hope. We are very proactive, enabling and empowering our residents to focus on the things they can do, rather than the things they can’t.” Michael has lived at Jewish Care’s Sidney Corob House care home for seven years. He says: “On moving to Sidney Corob House, I was introduced to a gentleman as my key worker. He sat with me and together we drew up a plan of care. I grew in confidence, enabling me to follow this plan without any problem. No words can express my gratitude to Jewish Care and the Sidney Corob House team for making me who I am today. I hope you understand why your support is so important.”
Jewish Care CEO Daniel CarmelBrown expresses how vital it is for the community support our mental health services: “As we prepare to sit around the Seder table together this Pesach, we are mindful that one in four of us will be struggling with our own mental health. Research tells us that 26 per cent of the Jewish community are living with mental health problems, and this figure is increasing year on year. It is vital that our community invests in these services if we want to ensure a mentally healthy community for the future. With your support, we will continue to be there for families and carers, and everyone whose mental illness and distress make everyday life a struggle.”
People feel safe here, they feel like they are part of a big family