Reform Judaism hosts mental health forum

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week. Reform Judaism’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Team recently held a forum event to discuss the rise in mental health difficulties, particularly amongst young people, and how we can respond to this. Participants from within Reform Judaism and partner organisations shared experiences and ideas, and these have informed our priorities for the coming year.

• We will be sharing much of the good practice that is already happening within communities, such as the Alyth Kindergarten resiliency programme, and the work on inclusion within RSY-Netzer.
• There will be a strong focus on mental health and wellbeing at both Chaggigah, our biennial celebration of Reform Judaism and RSY-Netzer’s Mega Chalutz leadership seminar.
• We will be working with Leo Baeck College to develop the knowledge and skills of rabbis in this area
• Mitzvah Day will be an opportunity to reflect on the power of talking and listening, and to hold conversations about mental health
• As well as recognising the challenges it presents, we would like to use social media as a power for good – please ‘like’ our Facebook page where we will be sharing resources.

We would like to engage many more people in these conversations, including young people, and hope to hold further such events, as well as developing a steering group for the project. If you would like to get involved, please contact Sharon Daniels sharon.daniels@rsy-netzer.org.uk.