www.jewishnews.co.uk
18 OCTOBER 2018
Jewish News supplement
Headlines Winter Nights at Head Room
Wellbeing for Youth Launch
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Expand your Horizons
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Jewish News 18 October 2018
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Wellbeing for Youth Naomi Frankel went in search
When I was a teenager, wellbeing was the last thing we all discussed, let alone explored in extracurricular activities. Of course there were the trials and tribulations of growing up, but we struggled through it, somehow. After all, with exams looming, there wasn’t time to dwell and so when summer came around, we brought the baggage of our school year along with us to camp. Activities during the day were distracting, but there were many homesick campers who spent the night crying, concealing it from the counsellors after all there is that overarching expectation of having nothing but a great time at camp. Friends who were camp leaders have confided
years has led her to strongly believe that it is
that although they loved their role, they often
“essential to all our work with young people
found themselves exhausted and overworked
and needs to be woven and threaded through
but accepted it as all ‘part of the job’.
every aspect of Jewish education, including
However, as more is learnt about young
summer camp’’.
people’s mental health and wellbeing through the media and other sources, materials such
The pack’s success has largely been attributed
as Jami’s innovative wellbeing pack for youth
to Reshet maximising its impact by bringing
are invaluable to continued learning.
the community’s various youth organisations together to bounce off ideas. It is a “resource
Supported by Reshet, the network for Jewish
that would help all movements,” according to
youth provision, the pack explores subjects
Philippa Carr, Education Manager for Jami,
applicable to today’s youth such as ‘phones and
who mentions initial collaborative meetings
wellbeing’, and ‘socialising and relationships.’
with madrichim and roshim across the spectrum
Information and tips about self-care for both
of Jewish youth affiliations.
chanichim and madrichim is included, as well as ‘hints and tips for creating an environment
At the pack’s launch in October, which took
that promotes wellbeing.’ Shelley Marsh,
place at Reshet’s annual gathering of informal
Reshet’s Executive Director asserts that
Jewish educators, a panel of young people
“wellbeing shouldn’t be packed in a box and
from various youth movements reflected on
brought out as a one off.”
the challenges they had faced whilst working in
Her background as a youth worker for over 30
summer camp.
18 October 2018 Jewish News
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Especially welcome in this resource for those burned out madrichim mentioned earlier in this article is a dedicated advice section entitled ‘selfcare for madrichim’. This opens with a candid foreword acknowledging that as madrichim ‘we can get caught up in the camp atmosphere and the close bonds we form with our chanichim and forget to look after ourselves.’
Philippa reiterates this by saying that “the whole aim is to provide a structured framework to help create the right ‘ruach’ (atmosphere) at camp where everyone can enjoy it and participate at their level.”
I note that part of the pack’s appeal is in its bright, colourful presentation and simply written content, which is relatable and informative without being patronising. It includes ‘good practice principles for education about mental health on camp and practical examples of age appropriate ideas for sessions.’ Thought provoking questions such as ‘how do we know if young people are happy on camp? explores practical steps madrichim can take if they are concerned that a chanich is isolated on camp. Philippa hopes that the activities in the pack will “enable our youth to come to these big themes with their own thoughts and ideas in a relaxed environment with other kids and leaders, where they feel their voices can be heard.”
Indeed, the pack’s pilot in August saw this objective accomplished with Jami delivering successful pre camp training with organisations such as FZY, Noam and Bnei Akiva. A session for the campers around self care and general mental health awareness also took place. The success of the pilot was seen afterwards, where the children were freely discussing and reflecting on what they had learned. “It was almost like the kids had been given permission to talk about these topics and wanted to carry on the conversations, which leaders were then able to facilitate” notes Philippa. The lexicon of Jewish youth movements and Jewish themed ideas on leadership show how religion and culture can provide us with a sense of community and belonging. Within these communities we know that there are people we can turn to and trust when we need them.
In the section on ‘socialising and relationships,’ it explores how young people ‘begin to create new secure bases on camp and it is vital for their wellbeing that we (madrichim) support these’. This means once campers have found a few friends that they have a connection with, madrichim ‘shouldn’t see it as their job to challenge these groups but rather support them so chanachim may then have the confidence to include others’. I can’t help but agree with this, having witnessed teachers and youth leaders splitting friendship groups up to encourage mixing, lending to a general feeling of inconsistency on camp.
This is a topic Philippa especially feels strongly about, noting “it is so important to give madrichim breaks, as well as providing them with structured activities, such as bowling”. Jami aims for the pack to be an ever developing and growing resource and urges youth movements to contribute their ideas for activities or new subjects for the document, thus further developing the dialogue and relationship between them and Jami. As Philippa puts it: “If we know how to support our young people, we can succeed in inspiring and encouraging the next generation to be articulate, thoughtful leaders.”
Shelley further explores this concept through the section of the pack she authors entitled ‘a holistic approach to residential youth work settings.’ She notes that through ‘modelling considered language, a supportive structure and transitional times which are tremendous fun as well as gently attentive, young people will feel safe to be themselves. With an emphasis of listening as much as telling, collaborating over coercing, each of these core components build together to create a holistic approach, enabling each young person to gain confidence in their own abilities and learn from the role models who are their leaders’.
The Wellbeing for Youth Pack can be downloaded from www.jamiuk.org
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Jewish News 18 October 2018
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Winter Wellbeing In the two years since it’s opening, the Head Room Café in Golders Green has become a fixture on the high street. Offering quality coffee, and according to online reviews ‘good healthy food at reasonable prices’, it continues to be popular. But the café, opened by Jami with support from the Maurice and Vivienne Wohl Charitable Foundation, has a lot more to offer the local community than a good flat white.
“For Mental Health Awareness Week 2018, we asked the community ‘How can we improve our mental health’ with hundreds of people writing notes on the Ideas and Inspiration board as they passed by the café. We reached thousands more people on social media.” In the two years since it opened, the Head Room Café in Golders Green has become a fixture on the high street. Offering quality coffee, and according to online reviews ‘good healthy food at reasonable prices’, it continues to be popular. But the café, opened by Jami with support from the Maurice and Vivienne Wohl Charitable Foundation, has a lot more to offer the local community than a good flat white. This one stop social enterprise encourages customers to sip, shop and share with the community’s mental health charity. Sharing is the main emphasis for Daniel, who is the Head Room Café Coordinator. Trained as a Peer Support Worker, Daniel draws upon his own experiences of poor mental health to help others. He believes this collaborative approach and the opportunity to discuss mental health related issues is often what people need. People can either relax with a coffee on their own or with friends. Some opt to participate in one of the many different groups that make up the ‘Wellbeing Menu’ presented alongside the range of delicious foods on offer. The monthly wellbeing menu of events and groups brings the subject of mental health out of an institutional context and into the heart of the local community. Devised by Daniel and the Head Room Education Team together with volunteers and other interested people it provides a space to learn and take part in conversations about mental health and wellbeing and what we can do about it - personally, with our family/ friends and as a community.
It is clear that an informal, open approach to mental health, coupled with the determination to banish stigma from the community has contributed to making this social initiative such a success. Combining a café with a wellbeing project is a daring venture, but Daniel explains its growing appeal is “because we’re a local café, so a lot of people come from the community because it looks nice and they like the food. The mental health objective comes through that.” This is achieved in a variety of ways including meaningful, Instagrammable quotes artfully hung around the café. Aiming to nourish mind and soul, the regular programme and special events arranged by Daniel and his colleagues includes a variety of activities including bitesize mindfulness sessions, weekly Community Conversations and an informal drop in called ‘CommuniTea’ – a chance to have a
cuppa, meet new people and help build the Head Room community. Workshops have brought together members of the public to explore issues in depth, such as; “How can we increase our capacity to listen and be listened to?”, “Breaking the Taboo: How to
talk openly about suicide?” and “Illuminating Darkness”. People use the sessions to find out more about the café and Jami as well as to contribute ideas for what they want to see on the programme.
“We get great feedback from these,” comments Daniel. “In particular, people are saying it’s great to have a welcoming Jewish space that really gets what’s going on for them.” “People think mental illness only affects a few, but in fact it’s a spectrum we’re all on. It’s not us or them, it’s something we all need to be thinking about.” He adds: “We get a diverse crowd of people coming, those comfortable to tell us about their own struggles with their mental health, those who are interested in the subject, Jews and non-Jews alike.” “At the Mini Festival of Me we created a welcoming environment for people to think about and practice self-care through a creative workshop and talking with our ‘Wellbeing Experts’. Over 50 people attended this event.”
The regular weekly sessions are growing, numbers of people taking part in wellbeing sessions and events at the café have increased by 83% in 2018 compared to 2017. Other mental health cafés exist as monthly pop ups or pre-bookable private groups, but few operate the ‘open door’ policy of a café for all in the heart of the community. This unique approach resulted in the Head Room Café being featured in two academic presentations at the Royal College of Occupational Therapists annual conference. One showcases the success of engaging the community in conversations about mental health through creative activity and the other discussing how social change can be achieved through informal daily encounters in public spaces. The start of ‘Winter Nights’ this month will see a programme of wellbeing and community engagement over the winter months on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings. The café will also be open to the public for tea and cake from 18:00-20:30. Daniel and the team hope this out of hours provision will continue to build an inclusive community around the café, in which everyone can benefit and contribute.
To see both the wellbeing and food menu at Head Room please visit: www.headroomcafe.org
18 October 2018 Jewish News
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Almost three decades of support After large psychiatric institutions closed in the 1990s, mental health day centres took on the role of filling the gap between hospital and community. A small group of determined parents in the Jewish community founded a centre in Golders Green with nothing but their experience as carers and some volunteers. Jami was established.
Friends of Jami Committee 1987, Establishment of Jami House
The centre was viewed as a safe place to go where people could participate in meaningful activity. However, day centres in general received mixed press. They were frowned upon as places which promoted segregation from local communities rather than integration within them, environments which limited social participation in daily life. Jami’s services were redesigned to be outward facing; encouraging social inclusion and meaningful activity. A partnership was formed with Jewish Care ensuring a clear focus for Jami on community-based mental health. People were encouraged to make their own choices, to be involved in the decisions which affected them, to access employment and education, in other words to be fully paid up members of their own local communities. At a time when many day centres have seen funding eroded year on year to the point where they are struggling to survive, Jami has continued to invest in its four hubs (in Edgware, Finchley, Hackney and Redbridge) and, with 52 mental health professionals, is now acknowledged as
a class-leading example of community support. Service users have become more involved in the day to day running of the hubs, getting involved in everything from helping to prepare food in the kitchen to working alongside Jami staff to devise and lead activities for their peers. But the reach of Jami extends far beyond the work carried out within its hubs: The Befriending programme pairs individuals with trained volunteers helping them take the first steps towards rediscovering old hobbies, connecting with their local communities and developing new interests. Caring for someone with a mental illness can also cause upheaval to the carer and their wider family. Jami provides one to one and group support, plus information and guidance enabling carers to cope with their own daily lives and routines. Hospital Visitors ensure that even though people may be admitted to a mental health unit, they are still connected to the Jewish community and, through Jami, have connections to continue their recovery once discharged.
Independent Living enables people to relearn key skills following an episode of poor mental health – such as washing and cleaning, cooking and budgeting. We also provide tenancy maintenance support and advice. Physical Fitness - we recognise the vital link between physical and mental health. Hubs provide sessions on stress management, diet and maintaining physical health and wellbeing. Jami’s Social Enterprise - comprising of the Head Room Café and boutique, Head Room Bikes, eBay store and enterprise Hub in Borehamwood - provides a range of opportunities to learn new skills and regain confidence in a working environment. Our Employment and Vocational Support team offer services such as skills assessments, supported job searches and advice on career change to people seeking part-time employment on minimum wage through to industry professionals returning to work. Jami recognises that maintaining employment or returning to work, volunteering or training can be a key part of the recovery.
Jami’s Head Room Education team provides a programme of workshops, seminars and other learning opportunities to schools, synagogues and local community groups. They aim to increase peoples’ mental health literacy and provide support. We run a variety of interactive workshops within schools to raise awareness about key issues concerning Mental Health. Through education we also build awareness, increase understanding and aim to put an end to stigma and discrimination through our transformative work in the wider community within schools, organisations and synagogues.
If you would like to self-refer or speak to Jami about someone you are concerned about please call on 020 8458 2223 or visit www.jamiuk.org
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Jewish News 18 October 2018
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Expand your horizons with Head Room
Café Culture
Young People
Schools & Youth Groups All Learners
Carers
Volunteers
Working in Mental Health Teachers & Educators
Learning with Jami’s Head Room programme Learning is at the heart of Jami’s Head Room programme. We all have mental health just as we all have physical health. Jami provides education about mental health and wellbeing to everyone in the Jewish community. We also provide support to people experiencing a variety of mental health problems and to carers affected by these issues. A selection of our courses and events from our new prospectus are detailed below.
Café Culture
Community Conversations
This Jami event is inspired by the French café-debat. Thierry Bonfanti the French psychologist and thinker created the café-debat (coffeehouse debate) in the 90’s. Bonfanti and his colleagues Michel Lobrot and Nicole Habrias developed these as a way of bringing people together to have interesting conversations. The group decides what to discuss facilitated by members of the Jami team.
Writers’ Open Mic Night
Do you fancy yourself as a budding writer or poet or do you prefer to be in the audience? Come and join us at the Head Room Café for our Writers’ Open Mic Night. Sit back, relax and have a drink whilst our writers and performers share with you some of their own work. Interested in reading your work? Please drop us a line headroom@jamiuk.org to join our list for the night.
Weekly sessions on
Doors open: 8.30pm; Readings: 9.00pm - 10.00pm
Thursdays at 6.30pm
11th October 2017, 24th January 2018, 14th March 2019, 16th May 2019, 4th July 2019
Head Room Café, Golders Green
Head Room Café, Golders Green
18 October 2018 Jewish News
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All Learners MHFA Adult
Stress and Me, Managing Better, Feeling Less Anxious
We are accredited providers of Adult Mental Health First Aid. This internationally recognised training course is the gold standard in equipping you with skills you can use as a ‘first aid response’ to help someone in distress. Come and join us to learn more about a variety of mental health problems, including recognising and supporting people in suicidal crisis. We also look at treatments currently used in England and increase your confidence in supporting others.
Stressed? Overwhelmed by work or family life?
Cost: £55 For more information on costings please get in contact. Two day course: Tuesdays, 6.00pm - 9.00pm
So many of us are attempting to juggle multiple commitments, no wonder we feel constantly stressed and pushed to our limit. Our new 3 week stress management course will enable us to understand and recognise our triggers and our learned behaviour for coping with stress. Learners will find a new and more manageable relationship with stress. We will also help you to explore how we can use ‘mindful’ moments and activities to help us enjoy our lives more and create our action plan for a less stressed out life.
6th, 13th, 20th, 27th November 2018
“It was easy to talk with a very open group with good advice and practical exercises”
Martin B. Cohen Centre, Edgware
Cost: £30
Two day course: Sundays, 10.30am - 5.30pm
Tuesdays, 7.30pm - 9.00pm
27th January 2019, 3rd February 2019
7th, 14th, 21st May 2019
Rambam Sephardi Synagogue, Elstree and Borehamwood
Martin B. Cohen Centre, Edgware
LGBT, My Mental Health and Me We know that those belonging to minority communities which face discrimination are at a higher risk of experiencing poor mental health; the LGBT community are no exception. Come and join us for a multi week course for those of us identifying as LGBT alongside lived experience of mental health issues to explore how we as LGBT Jews can support our mental health and wellbeing.
Cost: The courses are free for anyone who has used any of Jami’s support services in the last twelve months or £20 for 5 weeks. Five week course: Wednesdays, 7.00pm - 8.30pm 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th May 2019, 5th June 2019 Head Room Café, Golders Green This course is run in partnership with Keshet UK
Volunteers Mental Health Masterclass for Volunteers Our mental health masterclass will explore conditions including Bipolar, Borderline Personality Disorder and Psychosis. This course will be an opportunity to explore in depth how mental illness impacts on people’s lives and how we can channel our compassion to be useful. Cost: The course is free for current Jami volunteers or £20 per person, you will be asked where you volunteer when booking. One day seminar: Thursday, 11.15am - 3.30pm 22nd November 2018 Martin B. Cohen Centre, Edgware
To book any of our courses, please complete and return the form overleaf. To view all of our courses, please see the full prospectus online at www.jamiuk.org/head-room-courses To receive a copy in the post or to find out more please call 020 8458 2223 or email headroom@jamiuk.org
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tackling mental illness, head on A panel discussion Tuesday 8 January, 7.30PM
Laurie Rackind, Chief Executive of Jami
•
Abbie Mitchell, Mental Health Campaigner and Peer Mentoring Manager at Fitzrovia Youth in Action
•
JW3 London In the run-up to The Mental Health Awareness Shabbat, join us for a panel discussion on Tackling Mental Illness HEAD ON. A number of themes will be discussed before the discussion is opened up for Q&As from the audience to our panel of experts:
pm – pm
•
• • •
Nathan Servi, Streetwise
Rebecca Corney, Psychologist and member of Jami Clinical Governance Group Rabbi Rebecca Birk, Finchley Reform Synagogue,
Chaired by Paul Stein, Director of Fundraising at research charity MQ: Transforming Mental Health
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Please return to: Jami Head Room, Martin B Cohen Centre for Wellbeing, Gould Way, Deansbrook Road, Edgware HA8 9GL
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