Hadassah International and Hadassah UK champion mental health with a powerful week of community events in the UK. Over 200 participate across four unique gatherings addressed trauma, resilience, and urgent psychological needs in Israel and the UK.
In response to the deepening mental health crisis following the October 7th attacks and the continuing war in Israel, Hadassah International and Hadassah UK hosted a compelling series of hybrid events across London, welcoming more than 200 attendees in collaboration with Jami (Jewish Association for Mental Illness), part of Jewish Care, Mizrahi Tefahot Bank UK, and the Hadassah UK Trustees.
Despite being unable to travel due to the outbreak of hostilities between Israel and Iran, Dr. Shiri Ben-David, Chief Psychologist at the Hadassah Medical Organization in Jerusalem (HMO), joined each event virtually, bringing her frontline insights and warm presence to every room. Her powerful commentary was so impactful that many attendees remarked that it felt as though she was there in person.
At the heart of Dr. Ben-David’s message throughout the week was the urgent call for global Jewish solidarity to address the growing mental health emergency in Israel, where over one million Israelis are expected to require psychological care. She stressed the critical shortage of trauma psychologists and the urgent need for funding new training and capacity at Hadassah Hospital
Her presentations also highlighted findings from the national UK Jewish community mental health survey, conducted earlier this year by Hadassah UK, with support from Jami, and endorsed by the Chief Rabbi, Board of Deputies, United Synagogue, Progressive Judaism, Maccabi GB, and others.
Completed by over 500 individuals, the survey revealed higher-than-anticipated levels of anxiety and emotional distress. Philippa Carr, Senior Mental Health Education and Suicide Prevention Manager at Jami, commented “The survey results showed how the mental health needs of the community have been deeply affected by October 7. They are an important reminder of the need for the essential support Jami provides through our range of mental health services. For anyone wanting to make more connections, Head Room, Jami’s social enterprise café, supported by The Maurice Wohl Charitable Foundation, is a wonderful place to do just that, through the café’s extensive programme of groups and discussions.”
“We are seeing unprecedented levels of trauma, both in Israel and across the diaspora,” said Dr. Ben-David. “But the antidote is connection. The UK community is standing up with courage, and that solidarity is part of our healing.”
Dr. Ellie Cannon added ‘’I am so pleased we did this event for Hadassah and Jami, which was of huge benefit to the UK Jewish community. The events of 7.10 and after in Israel has taken a huge toll on our mental health as a community and as individuals, and to recognise that and talk about it is the first step to coping with it. Dr Shiri offered practical advice for us: to have purpose and limit our news intake so we can all feel in control, and that is a valuable lesson to learn in these terrible times. ‘’
The events included:
- A Business Breakfast with Mizrahi Tefahot UK, bringing together professionals to explore how trauma impacts leadership, workplace culture, and productivity.
- A Community Evening at Kinloss in partnership with Jami, attended by over 80 people, where Dr. Shiri Ben-David and NHS GP Dr. Ellie Cannon shared mental health insights and survey findings.
- A Health & Social Care Professionals’ Seminar together with Jami, with over 40 practitioners discussing clinical strategies and community needs, chaired by consultant psychologist Dr. Stuart Linke.
- A Trustee-hosted Women’s Lunch, featuring Dr. Shiri and Dr. Ellie Cannon, focused on women’s leadership in trauma recovery and community strength.
All events were delivered in hybrid format to ensure continued participation amid the unpredictable crisis in Israel. Across every conversation, the UK Jewish community showed both resilience and readiness to respond.