By Daniel Ben-David

Copyright thejc

Jami will be launching a new community suicide prevention programme for communal, lay and spiritual leaders and community members in early 2026. That initiative is designed “to reflect the community’s sensitivities and needs and will also cover postvention – the actions Jami takes to support the community after a suicide”, said the charity, which is part of Jewish Care. In 2023, over 6,000 people took their own life in the wider population of England and Wales, the Office of National Statistics recorded – the highest rate seen since 1999. According to the NHS, suicide is the leading cause of death for men under 50. It’s about being there, showing care in practical and creative ways, and letting people know they don’t have to face these moments alone Sophia, a senior peer support worker and co-lead at Jami, said: “As a peer support worker at Jami, I often walk alongside people in their darkest moments. When someone is suicidal, I believe it’s so important that they feel a compassionate presence. For me, it’s about being there, showing care in practical and creative ways, and letting people know they don’t have to face these moments alone. “These moments aren’t about fixing or taking away someone’s pain but about standing alongside them and showing that they are cared for and not alone.” (l-r) Leo Brosh from the JLC, MP David Pinto-Duschinsky, Louise Kermode and John, both from Jami (Photo: Jami/Jewish Care)[Missing Credit] Jami was recently invited by the JLC to hold a parliamentary drop-in at Portcullis House, hosted by Lis Twist, MP for Blaydon and Consett, to coincide with Suicide Prevention Day on September 10. Several MPs and Baroness Lucianna Berger, who is chair of the Maternal Mental Health Alliance, attended the event, where they heard from John, who has been supported by Jami and is now a community champion for the charity. He said: “When I woke up in the hospital, I saw all my family and friends around me, and it was very humbling to realise I meant a lot to people. The way Jami supported me made me feel understood and appreciated. They have changed my life.” The politicians, who included David Pinto-Duschinsky, MP for Hendon, and Fabian Hamilton, MP for Leeds North East, learnt about Jami’s social enterprise café Head Room in Golders Green. Louise Kermode, director of community mental health services at Jami, told them: “There’s a degree of empathy and understanding at Head Room. People don’t need a mental health assessment to go there. Anyone can join one of the groups or speak to a community befriender at the café. It gives people a sense of purpose and a role. “The other services that we offer are also modelled around peer and mutual support. But it all has to start with someone reaching out for help. We want to reach people before they reach the hospital stage.” Jami’s Head Room (Photo: Jami/Jewish Care)[Missing Credit] In response to hearing about Jami’s services, Tim Myers, MP for Middlesborough and East Cleveland, said: “We need to get something like this in the north-east.” In the meantime, to mark Youth Mental Health Day on Friday, September 19, Jami is launching an interactive digital wellbeing guide for parents or carers to support them in helping children build healthy online habits. The thinking behind it is to ensure that young people are able to navigate the digital world, build resilience, manage screen time and use social media safely and responsibly, said the charity. “The aim of the guide is to empower those with young people in their lives to have open, honest and productive conversations, and to grow the confidence of both adults and young people in this area,” said a spokesperson for Jami, which is part of Jewish Care. The guide was produced by Jami’s senior education coordinator, Emma Dorman, in partnership with the organisation Streetwise. There is also an accompanying fridge magnet, encapsulating key messages from the guide, which will act as a “powerful reminder and quick overview for those pressed for time”, said the charity. The guide begins with three questions to help people locate the content they are looking for and is split into sections, depending on whether the young person is just starting their journey with smartphones and social media, or if they are already using them. To download the digital guide, go to: jamiuk.org If you have been affected by any issues in this article and need immediate help, you can call the Samaritans on: 116 123. The line is free and open 24 hours a day. You can also contact Shout’s 24/7 crisis text service. Text Jami to 85258 for free To contact Jami, go to: jamiuk.org/get-support or call 020 8459 2223 An upcoming JC event on the topic, “Parenting in the Digital Age”, featuring expert guest speakers Baroness Luciana Berger and children’s mental health expert Nova Eden, will be taking place on October 16. To book your place, click here