The Commonwealth Government has commissioned services to help support the mental health needs of Jewish communities in Victoria.
Jewish Care Victoria has been engaged to provide culturally appropriate mental health responses to support community members who are affected by the crisis in Israel following the Oct 7 attack by Hamas.
In particular, Jewish Care will help people understand and access mental health and other related services; manage a small pool of funds to facilitate individual access to psychological support; and deliver mental health education, resources, and capacity-building activities to support well-being across the community.
A community consultation has recently been undertaken to inform project development.
“The insights that were so generously shared not only supported project design; they provided a powerful glimpse into the varied experiences and impacts of October 7 and beyond for our community,” said project lead Cassandra Barrett.
A report of the key findings will be released shortly. The federal government will also receive this information to support a greater visibility and understanding of the diverse and ongoing effects on the community.
To learn more about the program, including eligibility and contact information, visit www.jewishcare.org.au/israelMHsupport.
Any Jewish person living in Victoria who is experiencing distress as a result of the ongoing crisis is eligible.
Contact Jewish Care’s Front Door on 8517 5999 for a confidential discussion about your support needs.
If you would like to contribute to the consultation findings through sharing your own experiences, contact [email protected]