Wohl Legacy backs expansion of Jami counselling services

The Wohl Legacy charitable foundation is funding four new suites to support members of the community receiving counselling with the Jewish Association for Mental Illness (Jami).

The new Wohl counselling suites at Jewish Care’s Maurice and Vivienne Wohl Campus in Golders Green are themed to connect to nature and the four seasons.

Jewish Care chief executive Daniel Carmel-Brown, says, “This generous commitment from The Wohl Legacy has allowed us to create a bespoke, welcoming and safe space to conduct talking therapy sessions for Jami clients of all ages. It has also enabled us to recruit extra practitioners to help support the growing number of young people and adults who are living with mental illness and distress in our community.”

Following the service’s recruitment of additional therapists, it has expanded from providing one-to-one talking therapy sessions for adults to now include young people aged 11–18, who are already accessing Jami’s support through The Dangoor Children and Young Person’s Service.

Jami’s Talking Therapies service supports people struggling with everything from anxiety and depression to self-harm and suicidal ideation.

Louise Kermode, director of community mental health services (Jami), said: “The need for counselling, especially among young people, is greater now than ever before. The support of The Wohl Legacy has come at a time when the lack of mental health services available to people coincides with an increasing number of those struggling with their mental health.”

Professor David Latchman, chairman of the Maurice Wohl Charitable Foundation, said: “We are pleased that the new counselling suites will help to enhance the specialist mental health support available through Jami’s Talking Therapies service for young people and adults in the Jewish community who depend upon it.”

The Wohl Legacy is comprised of three independent charities founded by the late Maurice and Vivienne Wohl.