Jewish Teen Mental Health Matters: Take Action this Mental Health Awareness Month

How are Jewish American teens amidst the U.S. youth mental health crisis??

BeWell, the Jewish Federations of North America’s youth mental health and wellness initiative, is addressing this important issue within the Jewish world. Until this point, the team has created resources based on data from the general adolescent population because there has been no research to date about the wellbeing of Jewish American teens in particular. Until now that is, thanks to a partnership between BeWell and researchers at Stanford University.?

Dr. Ari Kelman, a professor at the Stanford University graduate school of education and PI for the project, explains, “American teens are facing a series of crises on all sorts of levels. At the heart of this project is an opportunity to look very closely at American Jewish teenagers and to see whether or not they are experiencing this moment in the same way as their peers.

“The research examines experiences among American Jewish teens with regard to pressures for achievement, the pressures of social media, antisemitism, and the war.”

“The research examines experiences among American Jewish teens with regard to pressures for achievement, the pressures of social media, antisemitism, and the war.” - Dr. Ari Kelman?

According to Kate Greene, social worker on the BeWell team, “We want to better understand how Jewish American teens are faring in this post-pandemic, post-October 7th era, and learn how we can best meet their needs with the most relevant resources. This study will provide insight into teens’ relationship with Jewish culture and tradition in relation to their peers, family and social supports. The aim is to pinpoint both their greatest sources of stress and their opportunities to move forward."?

Dr. Laura Brady of the Stanford research team explains, “There’s no existing peer-reviewed study that provides the information that we are going to gather through this research. What we learn is going to be something that no one currently knows from an empirically validated standpoint.”??

The survey is open through May 31st, offering an opportunity for teens who take it -- and adults who share it -- to do so in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month. It also coincides with Jewish American Heritage Month.?

“We don’t want a lack of information to be a reason why Jewish teens aren’t getting the support they need,” Dr. Brady explains.??

BeWell is coordinating with national Jewish teen-serving organizations and making a broader call-to-action for local leaders, educators, clinicians, parents, grandparents, and other family members to share this with the young people in their lives. Teens are encouraged to share with their peers. ?

The research team will analyze findings over the summer and results will be made publicly available later this year.

“The results of this research will be beneficial to national organizations and local communities alike, ultimately raising awareness and clarifying what Jewish teens are experiencing and inspiring solutions that most effectively promote their well-being.” - Kate Greene ?

You can amplify this important research by sharing the survey with the teens in your life. BeWell offers a toolkit with easy plug-and-play language and graphics for organizations and individuals to promote within their networks.??

To learn more about this research, check out the landing page on BeWell’s website , which houses the survey, promotional toolkit and a recorded?information session with the Stanford University research team.