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Problem on the rise in schools, universities and in the workplace

Children, teens and young adults are suffering — they need a listening ear

May 14, 2015 11:17
Pressures caused by the drive for academic success are particularly acute in the Jewish community

By

Josh Jackman,

Josh Jackman

3 min read

We are a community that cares for its children. The stereotype of the Jewish mother - feeding, clothing and coddling their offspring, sometimes to the extreme - exists for a reason: children are seen as precious.

However, this desire for our sons and daughters to succeed has created higher and higher levels of expectation of young people.

According to the Institute for Jewish Policy Research, the number of recent Jewish university graduates is 59 per cent higher than in the general population, and the figure is rising.

The drive for academic success followed by career success can place damaging pressure on youngsters. The illnesses that result from this are in turn made worse by a reluctance to talk about them.