For Mental Health Awareness Week (11th to 17th May), we speak to Emma Falk of Leeds Jewish Welfare Board and Esther Shirin, a community member whose life was transformed by LJWB’s support.
Eight years ago, Esther had a successful career as a dentist and was happily married with two children. Then, in February 2017, she suffered a serious nervous breakdown. What followed was years of addiction, loss, and – at a particular low point – near-destitution. Today, she is a newly qualified yoga teacher, working with the University of Leeds’ dental school, and completing a book about her experience. The difference, she says, was LJWB: “It literally saved my life. I was dying from the physical effects of alcohol and from a broken heart. Without the LJWB, I wouldn’t be here.”
LJWB arranged housing for Esther when she returned to Leeds, and its community support team helped her get settled and find a way forward. Now, she’s giving something back – from 16th April, she’ll lead a six-week yoga course at the MAZCC, running on Thursdays at 5.15pm, designed to support mental wellbeing and physical health for community members.
Emma Falk, who heads the community support and activities team at LJWB, understands the scope of what is needed in the community. With four support workers in the team, the service reaches people from their 40s through to their 90s and a dedicated children and family worker provides services to young people and teenagers, working alongside The Zone: “We offer support for all age groups and we often see people coming to us at points of crisis in their lives, partly because statutory services simply don’t have the capacity.”
The Leeds Jewish community skews older than the general population, and Emma notes an increase in older people presenting with mental health concerns alongside cognitive decline and dementia. But isolation affects people of all ages, and she is particularly keen to reach the 30 plus cohort who may not think of LJWB as somewhere for them: “The teenagers and young people are well served by The Zone and youth groups. What we’d love is for more working-age adults to come through the door.”
The MAZCC’s daily activities programme runs Monday to Friday and is designed specifically to combat social isolation. Provision includes Sing Yourself Happy – a weekly session with a live singer and community volunteers – an intergenerational chess club in which pupils from Brodetsky Primary play alongside older members, an arts and craft group, cognitive stimulation therapy for people in the early stages of dementia. There’s also a new talk series called Headspace covering topics ranging from ‘Is being Jewish a religion or a culture?’ to mountaineering and men’s health.
Emma acknowledges that within a tight-knit community, it’s important people know that everything discussed with LJWB’s support team is entirely confidential: “When you’re part of a community, you may be more cautious about reaching out. But you have nothing to fear – everything stays private.”
For Esther, the daily rhythm of activity at the MAZCC – the social contact, the sense of purpose, the gradual rebuilding of routine – was part of what made recovery possible. She is candid about overcoming the barriers she once felt: “When you’re struggling with your mental health, it can feel humiliating to ask for help. I always found it hard. But it’s the most important thing you can do. Talking to someone – just that alone – can be a lifesaver.”
If you or someone you know would benefit from a conversation about mental health support, call LJWB’s reception on 0113 268 4211 | Ljwb.co.uk LJWB also runs a mental health fundraising campaign every June, keep an eye out for these events.
- An evening with former Leeds United Captain Dominic Matteo – 14th June
- Harewood walk (eight miles) or run (13 miles) – 21st June
For more information, call 0113 203 4919 or email fundraising@ljwb.co.uk
