LSJS Education Page Improving young people’s wellbeing through Jewish Education

BY ESTHER COHEN

There has never been a time when the need for developing resilience and good mental health skills has been so prevalent. One may ask the proverbial ‘chicken and egg’ question: Should individuals only learn mental health skills once they face challenges, or should wellbeing skills be taught as a preventative measure to the trial and tribulations life throws at us?

In conversation with a fellow therapist, I shared my belief that just as children learn knowledge and behaviour skills at school that prepare them for life, so should they learn the tools to develop emotional intelligence and resilience. Through years of working with students on campus, it has become clear to me that whilst university students are well-equipped for the academic challenges that face them, they are less prepared for the emotional turmoil of leaving home, and standing on their own two feet, especially during times of adversity.

The deterioration of children and young people’s mental health has brought on the need to strategically look for avenues of prevention and support for young people’s wellbeing. Schools may well play a vital role in educating children towards wellness, building resilience, and a growth mindset, especially through faith education, particularly through Jewish Education. An initial enquiry showed the need for academic research to discover evidence-based ways to make a difference to the lives of our youth in preparation for their future. This was a worthy topic for my Masters’ research, and I wholeheartedly embraced the challenge to find out what can be done, how much is already being done and what the