Mental health guidance and care available

Many in the Jewish community are suffering, having been under siege for more than two years, since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. With the trauma of the Bondi Chanukah massacre, and so many Jewish people directly and indirectly affected, it is vital to look after one’s mental health.

In response, St Kilda Hebrew Congregation is organising a discussion on February 18 at 7.30pm, entitled “Looking After Yourself” which will gather three experts to offer mental health guidance though different approaches. It aims to validate feelings of trauma and offer ways to work through them – including guidance on how to help others and recognising warning signs.

The panel includes: Rabbi Yaakov Glasman, a qualified counsellor, rabbi of St Kilda Shule and pastoral carer who will share the spiritual approach that he applies during counselling; Jamie Maserow, a psychologist and Hatzolah volunteer who will share experience treating trauma; and Cassandra Barrett, community educator and mental health engagement lead at Jewish Care who will reflect on common experiences of trauma and explore practical strategies to help manage distress and build one’s ability to feel safe and able to cope.

The discussion will be moderated by Rachelle Unreich, author, journalist and St Kilda Shule board member who shared, “It is hard for people outside the Jewish community to realise what we have been going through.

“For some, it’s the relentless antisemitism that makes it hard to cope. For others, it’s simply reading the newspapers or going online – even if they have not been targeted personally themselves.