May is Mental Health Awareness Month. This month and every month, supporting the mental well-being of those in our local and international communities is a priority for the Jewish Federation.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. This month and every month, supporting the mental well-being of those in our local and international communities is a priority for the Jewish Federation. After the horrific violence and dehumanization on and since Oct. 7, this mission has become even more necessary as so many in our communities face exacerbated trauma.
Encouraging Well-Being
According to Mental Health America, approximately 50 million Americans are living with mental health conditions.
The Jewish Federation is committed to connecting those in Greater Philadelphia who are facing such struggles with access to services to help them lead fulfilling lives.
We fund organizations that actualize this mission in three ways:
Helping those living with mental health challenges and their families
Addressing collective trauma from crises
Promoting mental well-being and community self-care initiatives
“I want to express my sincere gratitude to the Jewish Federation for the generous support at the onset of our efforts to resettle Ukrainian refugees in Philadelphia.”- Andre Krug, president and CEO of KleinLife
Over the past few years, there have been a number of crises that have affected members of the Jewish community all over the world. For each one, the Jewish Federation has stepped up to help provide vital aid and recovery support to those fleeing war zones, surviving natural disasters and living through violent attacks.
In February of 2022, after the Russian invasion into Ukraine, over 6.5 million Ukrainians fled their country. KleinLife, which is supported by the Jewish Federation to offer community resources and social services, was able to take in and provide resettlement services to 1,700 of these refugees, many of whom are Holocaust survivors or children. Now, two years later, the Jewish Federation is still actively working with KleinLife to care for these refugees by providing basic necessities and educational programming.
“Prior to Oct. 7, teens were struggling with the regular things that made life hard for [them]. Then Oct. 7 happened, and for many teens, their walls started to crumble. With the help of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, we are so happy to be there for those teens.” - Shuli Karkowsky, Moving Traditions CEO
According to a 2022 CDC report, one-third of teens reported having poor mental health since 2020, and one in five teens have contemplated suicide. Recognizing this disturbing trend, the Jewish Federation hosted a seminar in January in partnership with the Foundation for Jewish Day Schools about improving the social and emotional health of Jewish teens and young adults.
As teens face increasing levels of antisemitism at schools and on social media, the Jewish Federation is currently partnering with Jewish Federations of North America's BeWell initiative, Stanford University and other leading U.S. Jewish organizations in conducting a survey of American Jewish teen well-being. Have the teen in your life take the survey here by tomorrow.
To help teens navigate this increasing hatred, the Jewish Federation also supports grantee organizations, like Moving Traditions, as it works to create community and lead programs that promote mental well-being. Watch the video below to hear about this work.
Addressing Collective Trauma
After Oct. 7, so many Israelis began to face unprecedented levels of trauma and grief.
In order to help those in Israel process the horrific violence during this ongoing war, the Jewish Federation granted funds from its Philly Stands with Israel emergency campaign to organizations that provide psychosocial support services to those impacted by this crisis.
Prior to Oct. 7, we had been funding many of these organizations through our Annual Campaign as a way to strengthen Israelis’ fortitude, coping abilities and emergency response preparedness.
An Example of Our Work
Just three of the organizations we support include:
Dror Israel, which provides therapeutic emotional and educational support by establishing makeshift schools and day care centers for thousands of evacuee children and families.
Israel Trauma Coalition (ITC), which provides national response in the treatment of trauma and emergency preparedness and operates 12 national resilience centers.
Orr Shalom, which cares for children and youth at-risk in Be’er-Sheva.
“Ensuring that students have access to mental health professionals on campus is another crucial layer to combating antisemitism and its effects on mental health.” - Brian Gralnick, Jewish Federation director of local grants and partnerships
Over the past seven months, college campuses have become a hotspot for antisemitic and anti-Zionist demonstrations – such as the ongoing encampments calling for American universities to divest from Israel. These actions have targeted Jewish students and faculty in a clear violation of their civil rights.
These actions have targeted Jewish students and faculty in a clear violation of their civil rights, impacting their mental health and sense of safety. To combat this rising hate, the Jewish Federation allocated $90,000 for Hillel at Temple University to hire a full-time social worker to help students mitigate these new challenges. Learn more here.
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