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COVID-19 has impacted the whole world; for almost everyone, life has had to change profoundly with an increase in a range of mental health conditions for adults, from emotional exhaustion, sleep problems and anxiety to depression. In response, the Good Thinking team has been developing the service making changes to offer better and more relatable support to Jewish communities in London. Millions of us have experienced a mental health problem or seen a loved one struggle and we understand that people might be feeling anxious, stressed or struggling with other mental health concerns.

Good Thinking are pleased to launch the Five Ways to Wellbeing & Judaism, produced in collaboration with Jami, in consultation with Rabbi Miriam Berger and Rabbi Daniel Epstein and with the support of The London Jewish Forum, Maccabi GB and the London Borough of Barnet, This expanded resource is to meet the growing demand for mental health support across London and its diverse communities and to provide curated resources that feel more culturally appropriate for faith communities.

The five ways to good mental wellbeing and Judaism, are based on NHS advice and are also encouraged in Islamic teachings, they are:

1. Connect with other people
2. Be physically active
3. Learn something new each day
4. Give to others
5. Pay attention to how you feel

Endorsed by the Jami, The London Jewish Forum, Maccabi GB and the London of Barnet, the Five Ways to Wellbeing and Judaism forms one part of the wider toolkit. The toolkit provides a series of videos and accompanying animations on the five ways to wellbeing that can be shared on WhatsApp and across various social media platforms. This toolkit will be followed by more toolkits for other faith communities.

It has never been more important to look after your mental wellbeing and help your loved ones.

Councillor Caroline Stock, Chair of the Barnet Health and Wellbeing Board and former Mayor of Barnet, said:

“There are so many aspects that come to together to allow us to be healthy. Over the last year the pandemic has affected every one of us in some way and the Jewish community has recognised and is working hard to support those experiencing mental health difficulties. These issues can affect anyone at any time, it’s not someone’s choice and can result in one’s inability to function. We all need to work together to ensure people feel safe and able to seek help from professionals. Barnet Council fully supports and endorses the ‘5 ways to good mental wellbeing and Judaism’”

Laurie Rackind, Chief Executive of Jami, said:

“It is vital we address the mental health crisis that has resulted from the Covid pandemic. This initiative from Good Thinking highlights the role of community and faith in supporting our mental health and wellbeing, providing much needed connection and support essential for a mentally healthy community”

Adrian Cohen and Andrew Gilbert, co-Chairs of the London Jewish Forum, said:

“The pandemic has had a significant impact on the mental wellbeing of our community. It is more important than ever that we take time to look after ourselves and our mental wellbeing. We are delighted to support and endorse the ‘5 ways to good mental wellbeing and Judaism’, which provides a range of resources to help Jewish Londoners improve their mental health. Thank you to Good Thinking, JAMI, Maccabi and our Rabbinic partners for the vital work they are doing for our communities which is needed more than ever.”

Ashley Lerner, Chief Executive of Maccabi GB, said:

“Maccabi GB is proud to be part of Good Thinking’s guide ‘Five ways to good mental wellbeing & Judaism’. As the Jewish Community’s leading provider of Sports, Health and Wellbeing activities, we firmly believe that being physically active improves mental wellbeing. Across all ages and all Jewish denominations, our commitment is to support the entire Community in its return to a healthy, post-pandemic world. This guide will empower anyone to seek support when needed and engage with many brilliant organisations and resources which embody the true Maccabi spirit of ‘A healthy mind in a healthy body’.”

Some of the ways you can support this campaign and beyond:

• Consider the five steps to improve mental health and wellbeing, as recommended by the NHS and also encouraged in the Jewish tradition.
• Join the conversation on social media and tag us in @GoodThinkingUK
• Use the toolkit and its resources with your community.

For more information, visit www.good-thinking.uk/judaism

 

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 Notes to editors

For more information or to arrange an interview with a spokesperson, please contact info@good-thinking.uk

About Good Thinking

Good Thinking supports Londoners to look after their mental health and wellbeing in a way that works for them. Since its launch in 2017, more than half a million people have used our digital service to tackle anxiety, stress, low mood, sleep problems and other concerns. Good Thinking is free for Londoners thanks to the support of the Mayor of London, London Councils, Directors of Public Health and Public Health England. It is delivered by Healthy London Partnership.

Available 24/7 on any device and completely anonymous, Good Thinking provides a range of resources to help Londoners improve their mental wellbeing, including free NHS-approved apps, articles, blogs, podcasts, self-assessments, videos and workbooks. All the apps we recommend are independently assessed and our clinically validated self-assessment tool is powered by DoctorLink.

For more information, visit www.good-thinking.uk

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