The atrocities committed on October 7, the ongoing war and the increase of antisemitism have all contributed to a rise in stress levels among those in the Jewish community.
Now, Jami, the Jewish community’s mental health service, has launched a range of resources to help people make sense of their feelings and reactions over the past 11 months.
The resources are based on a series of Jami’s psycho-educational workshops to different communities and organisations that were delivered by Philippa Carr, Jami’s senior education and suicide prevention manager and Dr Stuart Linke, a consultant clinical psychologist, as part of an initial response to the outpouring of shock and anxiety following the attacks.
Carr said: “The Jewish community has faced a deep psychological challenge since 7th October, which has been ongoing. The workshops we delivered as a response to the community’s initial grief and shock now have a legacy with the production of these resources.
"The climate of antisemitism that continues to bring discomfort and fear to many is a major challenge to mental health. We hope the resources will support the community and help with the ongoing stress and anxiety.”
Jami’s series of short videos, featuring Carr in conversation with Linke, acknowledge how people might experience this psychological impact and how they can manage their distress.
"The events post October 7th have produced a sense of unease in our community,” said Carr. “[They have] produced a sense of people actually not feeling safe anymore on the streets”.
On the videos, Carr and Linke talk about the ways in which October 7 and subsequent social media posts may also have affected children, including on their personal beliefs, and suggest ways in which they can deal with their anxiety. “It’s okay to just take a moment and breathe gently, just putting your hands on your body and trying to ground yourself and come back to the present moment,” says Carr.
The Jami resources are based on a series of workshops the mental health support charity gave to the community following October 7 (Photo: Jami/Jewish Care)
Jami, which comes under the umbrella of Jewish Care, has also produced an accompanying downloadable information booklet, Understanding Our Reactions to Conflict in the Middle East and Antisemitism, which contains practical tips and advice to help people deal with stress and suggests ways to stay connected with others.
The booklet explores different topics such as the impact of the news on everyday life and the human response to threat. “The nature of the situation makes it especially challenging as it is ongoing, and we don’t know when it will end. Our brains perceive the situation as a continuous threat and many of us respond with high levels of anxiety,” it says.
The resources also shed light on how our personal relationships and friendships may have been affected since the attacks and where to find support. “If it feels safe enough, we could join a conversation at our synagogue or other group we are affiliated with. You’ll probably be surprised to hear from others who feel similar to you, and this can bring comfort and connection.”
The development of these resources, which have been funded and supported by the Mayor of London, follows the engagement of London’s public mental health partnership, Thrive LDN, with communities who have been affected and impacted by the conflict. The London Jewish Forum and London Jewish Health Partnership have also supported the creation of the resources.
These online resources are available here. The booklet can also be accessed separately here.
