Mental health crisis in young people has reached ‘breaking point’ says charity

Barr said that the increase within the Jewish community reflected what was going on at a national level, with recent studies revealing that more than one in four young people in the UK reported having mental health struggles, with self-harm and suicide attempts among teenagers continuing to rise.

Ari Leaman MBE, JTeen’s safeguarding lead, said: “The rise we are seeing is deeply concerning. It is not just the numbers, it is the intensity of distress. We are hearing from young people who feel completely trapped, who have lost all sense of hope.”

Statistics from 2025 showed that over 50 per cent of callers or those who sent text messages were struggling with anxiety and depression.

Ari Leaman, JTeen safeguarding lead (Photo: JTeen)[Missing Credit]

While Leaman couldn’t put the increase in calls down to one thing, he said that “the combination of Covid, October 7, hate on social media and seeing headlines in the media implying ‘Jews aren’t welcome here’” may have been contributing factors.

This was in additions to struggles callers might already be experiencing in their home life or a cademically, he said.

“What we are seeing are young people who are very lonely,” added Barr. “We are living in a world where there is a lack of resilience among young people, compared to in previous generations.”

In light of this, JTeen has been strengthening its prevention work through its new three-volume Mastering Your Mind workbook and curriculum, now being rolled out in schools nationwide across the Jewish religious spectrum. “We run these programmes in schools to prevent kids getting to the point of crisis. We teach kids life skills, inner strength and how to cope with challenges,” Barr said, adding that they had also received interest in their resources from non-Jewish schools.

The award-winning service is modelled on the national helpline, Childline, and while JTeen doesn’t provide face-to-face counselling, they will offer several sessions of therapy over the phone if they think it will be beneficial or signpost callers to organisations who can give in-person support.

Barr said that part of the work they did was “to encourage callers to speak to a trusted adult”.

JTeen CEO and founder Yaakov Barr launching JStudent, the helpline for Jewish students (Photo: JTeen)[Missing Credit]

In response to the growing crisis in young people’s mental health, JTeen now has nearly 100 helpline volunteers, and has introduced new specialist training focused on managing high risk and suicidal presentations.

But Leaman called on all sections of the Jewish community, including parents, schools and synagogues to work together to support young people.

“As safeguarding professionals, we are doing everything possible to ensure that every contact is treated with the utmost seriousness and care. But we also need a wider community response. Prevention must start long before crisis hits.”

Barr said that everyone had a role to play. “If you see someone looking down, reach out to them and say: ‘Are you okay?’”

While the community has mental health support services such as JTeen and Jami (part of Jewish Care), Noa Girls and JStudent, an offshoot of JTeen, Barr said that there was still a stigma attached to mental health. “Too many teenagers are coming to therapy too late as their parents are worried what other people will think. That’s why it’s important that there is an anonymous service for them.”

JTeen safeguarding trustee Riki Greenberg said: “Every number represents a life. We cannot accept a future where feeling suicidal becomes normal for teenagers. We must act, in our homes, our schools, and our communities, to equip young people with the strength and support they need to survive and thrive.”

JTeen:

text 07860058823

or call 08009154646

From 6pm until midnight. For out of hours support, go to: jteen.co.uk/support/ or click here

To contact JStudent, go to: jteen.co.uk/jteen-student-supportline/ or cick here

Other support can be provided by The Samaritans 24 hours: 116 123