matters We are delighted to share with you our Jami matters magazine – Winter/Spring edition 2024 The post Jami matters – Winter/Spring 2024 appeared first on Jami UK ..read more

The third Monday in January has been designated “Blue Monday” due to a combination of bad weather, post-holiday debts and people’s frustrations that their New Year resolutions are already proving impossible to maintain. For many of us, particularly if we are experiencing mental illness and distress, any day of the week can be a blue one. Depression can be particularly pertinent going through the various life transitions – from becoming a new mum and managing expectations, through to divorce, mid-life and menopause. Bereavement and a change in role within the family are also possible triggers ..read more

Twenty-six per cent of people have cited the Middle East war as a factor for seeking mental health support from Jami. These are individuals with pre-existing mental illness whose symptoms have been exacerbated by the crisis. This figure was revealed in the initial assessment that new service users undergo to determine their background, current situation and what they may need support with. Louise Kermode, Jami’s director of services, said: “The horrific events in Israel and Gaza and the rising antisemitism that it has sparked, have impacted so many members of the community. People are feeling ..read more

November marks Men’s Mental Health Month, an annual campaign dedicated to raising awareness about the mental health challenges faced by men. It is crucial in addressing what is an often-overlooked issue and breaking the stigma surrounding it. Laurie Rackind, our chief executive, talks about his experience of men’s mental health while leading Jami. “Our health is part of our stature. It’s hard to admit failure when it comes to our physical health, so it’s especially hard when it comes to our mental health. Mental illness is often perceived as a weakness. In the main, this is down to i ..read more

The respective Chairs of Jami and Jewish Care’s Boards of Trustees, Adam Dawson and Jonathan Zenios have today announced that Jami and Jewish Care are to become one and have issued the statement below: 11 years ago, communal charities Jami and Jewish Care came together to create a single mental health service for the Jewish community. The Boards of Trustees of both organisations have decided that now is the right time to fully integrate their services with each other. Jami currently shares some back-office functions with Jewish Care and recently relocated their primary office to Jewish Care ..read more

This is such an unprecedent and terrible time for us all. Many of us feel fear, anger, and especially helplessness both with the situation in Israel and with antisemitism at home. Each of us will have our coping mechanisms, which most of the time are sufficient. This, however, is not one of those ordinary times. We are faced with such uncertainty that many of us are understandably anxious and fearful. It is absolutely OK, not to feel OK. CST, in partnership with Jami, the Board of Deputies of British Jews, the Jewish Leadership Council and PaJes, have put together some top tips, which we hope ..read more

Statement to the Jewish Community from Jami The staff, volunteers and Board of Trustees at Jami would like to offer our thoughts and support to the Jewish community at this moment of sorrow and anxiety regarding the recent atrocities and war in Israel. None of us could have dared to imagine the catastrophic events of the last few days. We stand with you and feel your pain and heartbreak. Jami staff are working hard to support our service users, who, like the rest of the community, feel deep anguish at this turn of events. In addition to the many hundreds of people we are supporting at any one ..read more

Statement to the Jewish Community from Jami The staff, volunteers and Board of Trustees at Jami would like to offer our thoughts and support to the Jewish community at this moment of sorrow and anxiety regarding the recent atrocities and war in Israel. None of us could have dared to imagine the catastrophic events of the last few days. We stand with you and feel your pain and heartbreak. Jami staff are working hard to support our service users who like the rest of the community feel deep anguish at this turn of events. In addition to the many hundreds of people we are supporting at any one tim ..read more

Today is World Mental Health Day. This year the day falls at a time when the Jewish community is being challenged to a degree that none of us could have imagined. The news from Israel touches us deeply. Many of us have family and friends who are directly impacted by the terror that has been unleashed. But this crisis runs deeply for us all, whether we have been closely affected; whether we have been consuming newsfeed obsessively; or whether we have been talking to friends, partners or colleagues about what this news means to us as Jews today. Many of us may feel as if we have been personally ..read more

‘Mental health is a universal human right’ is the theme of this year’s World Mental Health Day, which is celebrated every year on 10th October. But you may be wondering, what does this mean? Is it saying that anyone with mental illness deserves the same rights as everyone else? Does it suggest that some sectors of society are denied the right to enjoy good mental health because of barriers such as poverty, racism, and isolation? Or is it about people with mental illness and distress not being able to access quality mental health care? It is fair to say that any of these interpretations would b ..read more