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The Jewish Mental Wellness Workshop is a two part series that focuses on learning about mental health concepts, connecting Judaism to mental health, and creating a space for participants to think about how they can support individuals in their lives and their larger community.

Outcomes: Participants will walk away with…

• A basic understanding of mental health concepts
• Insight into the connection between Judaism and mental health
• Tangible ways to apply Jewish values to make spaces more inclusive, holistic, and responsive
• Tools to notice when someone is struggling and to support those around you experiencing mental health challenges
• The framework and beginning steps of a community action plan

During the Jewish Approaches to Mental Wellness Workshop, participants will be guided through activities that explore the ways middot (Jewish values) and prayer connect to mental health. Participants will take a deeper look into the Mi Sheberach, a traditional prayer for healing, and write unique Mi Sheberach prayers for mental health.

Outcomes: Participants will walk away with…

• Insight into the connection between Judaism and mental health.
• An understanding of the Blue Dove Foundation’s eight middot (Jewish values), the Mi Sheberach prayer and its relationship to mental health and addiction.
• Unique Mi Sheberach for mental health and addiction written by participants

Anxiety and depression are prevalent right now for our kids. Drawing on the principles of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and personal experience with children struggling with depression and anxiety, this workshop will focus on helpful – potentially life-saving – tools and language for our youth.

Outcomes: Participants will walk away with…

• Insight into how anxiety and other mental health challenges show up in various environments (educational settings, at home, etc.), and impacts both adults and children in those spaces.
• An understanding of hallmark unhealthy thinking patterns that show up frequently with depression and anxiety.
• Jewish texts and values that can be used as a lens for modeling and teaching healthier thinking habits.
• Creative applications of these texts for our individual teaching contexts and in our individual homes.

In Judaism, the middah (Jewish value) of hakarat hatov is used to emphasize the importance of recognizing the amazing things God has blessed us with in our lives. In this workshop, participants will explore gratitude and its connection to Judaism, and will get the opportunity to engage in gratitude practices that they can use at home after the workshop.

Outcomes: Participants will walk away with…

• A definition of gratitude that resonates with them
• An understanding of gratitude as a science
• An understanding of how gratitude is recognized in Judaism
• Tangible practices you can try at home

This workshop creates a space where children can understand the ideas of anxiety and stress from a young age, and how to cope with it through open and productive communication with both friends and adults.

Outcomes: Participants will walk away with…

• An understanding of the difference between stress and anxiety, as well as coping skills for how to deal with stress.
• Communication skills to engage in healthy communication with their anchor partner and an identified person they feel comfortable turning to when they need support in dealing with stress.
• A clear definition of what makes a healthy friendship and what they have to contribute to a healthy friendship.
•  An understanding of the qualities of a “mensch” (Jewish term for an honorable, good person) and a list of their own character strengths.

Jewish organizations and community members play a very important role in advocating for and supporting mental wellness in the Jewish community. Participants will engage in meaningful conversation around mental health challenges they see in their community and develop an action plan that focuses on supporting mental health in their community, organization, or congregation.

Outcomes: Participants will walk away with…

• Insight into the connection between Judaism and mental health
• An understanding of mental health challenges seen in their community 
• A framework to assess how they can make meaningful change in their community
• The foundation for their community action plan and the next steps to continue the work after the workshop

A hands-on personal and emotional experience where young girls can start to understand the ideas of anxiety and stress and how to cope with it through open and productive communication with both friends nd adult women in their lives.

Outcomes: Participants will walk away with…

• An understanding of the difference between stress and anxiety, as well as coping skills for how to deal with stress.
• Communication skills to engage in healthy communication with their adult partner and an identified person they feel comfortable turning to when they need support in dealing with stress.
• A clear definition of what makes a healthy friendship and what they have to contribute to a healthy friendship.
• An understanding of the qualities of a “mensch” (Jewish term for an honorable, good person) and a list of their own character strengths.

• Mental Health 101 – Exploring common mental health terms, the current state of mental health, and the spectrum of mental health
• Impact of Trauma – What is trauma/secondary trauma, how does it impact us, and how do we support ourselves and others
• Caring for Ourselves – Exploring how we can find ways to care for ourselves in a way that is realistic
• Additional topics – If there is a mental health topic that is relevant to your community that you would like to explore, we can work with you to customize a workshop for you

Get in touch and we can help you explore including an add-on to one of our workshops.

We want to support your organization in destigmatizing mental health and promoting mental wellness in the way that works best for you. Get in touch and we can create a unique workshop around Jewish mental health values for your community.