JTeen, a pioneering support service for Jewish teens, has been awarded Helpline of the Year 2024 by the Helplines Partnership, the UK’s sole accrediting body for helpline services. Competing against well-established organizations like the British Heart Foundation and Citizens Advice Scotland, this award underscores JTeen’s unique approach to supporting young people in crisis and reflects the organization’s extraordinary commitment to mental health in the Jewish community.
This prestigious award recognizes JTeen’s exceptional professional standards, its innovative use of technology, and its unwavering support during challenging times. Among its standout achievements, JTeen is one of the first support services in the UK to offer anonymous WhatsApp support, an innovation that has significantly enhanced accessibility for today’s youth. By making their services more approachable through widely used technology, JTeen has reached a broader spectrum of young people in need.
JTeen’s dedication to supporting Jewish teens has been especially impactful since the tragic events of October 7th, when an intensified need for mental health support arose within the community. Its specially trained volunteers, counsellors, and therapists work tirelessly to ensure that no young person feels alone, offering support that is both culturally sensitive and professionally delivered.
Established in 2021 and led by psychotherapist Yaakov Barr, JTeen provides confidential guidance to Jewish teens aged 11-24, with support rooted in Torah values and a strong focus on accessibility. Unique among support lines, JTeen is the only service of its kind with therapists available to consult and, when necessary, refer teens for further therapeutic care. This vision was integral to John Cameron, JTeen’s lifetime patron and former head of NSPCC and Childline, who was instrumental in the organization’s inception. Cameron’s vision for JTeen was to create a support line that would stand apart by offering more than just support—a service that could provide teens with immediate, qualified therapeutic guidance.
Beyond its support line, JTeen is also shaping the future of mental health support through JTeen Prevent, a preventative initiative informed by data gathered from support line interactions. Trends and crisis themes from these conversations drive the organization’s community outreach, informing school workshops, community events, and resources tailored to address the real issues facing today’s teens, such as anxiety, family breakdown, and self-esteem challenges. This data-driven approach ensures that JTeen’s preventative efforts remain relevant and responsive.
“This award is a powerful validation of our team’s commitment to safeguarding the mental health of Jewish teens and ensuring they feel empowered to face life’s challenges with resilience and hope,” said psychotherapist Yaakov Barr, CEO of JTeen. “This recognition inspires us to keep advancing our support and outreach, meeting the evolving and urgent needs of the teens in our community.”
Reflecting on this national recognition, Riki Greenberg, a trustee of JTeen, expressed her pride: “Being recognized alongside such notable national organizations is both humbling and inspiring. This award underscores our unique role as the only support line with therapists on hand to consult and refer, providing essential support for young people in our community.”
Liz Champion from the Helplines Partnership also offered her congratulations: “Congratulations to JTeen on winning our 2024 Helpline Award. We were overwhelmed by the standard of entries, so huge congratulations on this well-deserved recognition.”
Earlier this year, JTeen received a letter of support from the Chief Rabbi in advance of its January charity campaign. As JTeen’s reach continues to grow, the organization hopes to further engage with community leaders to highlight the mental health challenges facing Jewish youth and to showcase how JTeen’s blend of innovative and traditional support approaches is helping to address these urgent needs
