Mental Health Awareness Shabbat falls annually on Shabbat “Bo”, which this year is on 22nd-23rd January. During this week we put extra focus on mental health and wellbeing and to raise awareness of mental illness - something that is even more important this year! 

This will be reflected in the service, with prayers and with Rabbi Thomas being joined by a guest speaker. We are excited to welcome children's author Esther Marshall to speak on her new book 'It's Okay not to be Okay' and the importance of the next generation talking about Mental Health. This will be followed by Q&As.

Esther Marshall is an author changing the game in the early years children’s book market – her books empower children to fulfill their dreams regardless of gender, race or religion and teach children critically important lessons in self-belief, mental health and gender equality in an authentic and fun way. Esther is also founder of sTandTall, an organisation that provides support and resources to individuals suffering from abuse and bullying via an online platform, community and education programmes. Esther has gained national media coverage including the Huffington Post, Cheddar Sky News and The BBC, and has won numerous including the prestigious UK Governments Point of Light Award, Just Giving Influencer of the Year Award, Unilever Hero’s Award and Runner up for Women of the Future. Esther was also recently named number 9/100 of Women in Tech to watch. Esther has been invited to speak about her work and her story around the world at events such as Cannes Lions Festival, One Young World, Buckingham Palace to personally speak to Duke and Duchess of Sussex, WE Day and Ogilvy along with many schools. She currently works at Unilever where she leads on the Gender Diversity and Inclusion Agenda for the company and is a mum to two year old Asher who is the first and most important critic of Esther’s writing.

To find out what else we are doing for MHAS, head over to our MHAS page.