This article was featured in the JF&CS Newsletter on March 21, 2024

JF&CS and Holy Blossom Temple have been intertwined from the very beginning. Since the 1800s, Holy Blossom and JF&CS have stood as pillar organizations within the Jewish community and have planted the seeds of long-standing traditions. In fact, many JF&CS leaders have also been leaders at Holy Blossom over the decades.

In recent years, JF&CS has been working with Holy Blossom and the Luke Sklar Mental Health Initiative to create a safe space for the community to discuss mental health through free workshops. The Luke Sklar Mental Health Initiative aims to end the stigma around mental health, an endeavour that is paramount to JF&CS as well. The workshops are organized by a team of professionals, volunteering their time – a psychologist, social worker, nurse, and others who share the same passion for the cause.

Social workers from JF&CS have offered support during several workshops facilitated by the Initiative. From speaking on a panel about childhood sexual abuse in Jewish spaces to acting as a warm ear should anyone be triggered during workshops, JF&CS and Holy Blossom have been advocating for those struggling with mental health in many ways. Other workshops have discussed trauma healing and growth, unpacking and understanding the phenomenon of suicide, understanding gender diversity in children and adolescents, and more.

At the most recent workshop, Shining a Light on Mental Health: An Overview of Mental Health First Aid Training, guest speaker Susan Kagan discussed some of the skills needed to support someone who is in a mental health crisis. JF&CS social worker Sasha Fink was available during the workshop to provide support to those attending.

According to the Mental Health Commission of Canada, one in five Canadians experiences a mental health problem within a given year. JF&CS is proud to regularly support Holy Blossom and The Luke Sklar Mental Health Initiative to help address the needs of our community.