Hard-hitting new film sheds light on mental health in the Orthodox Jewish Community
"Levi" tells the story of Levi, a Jewish youngster, who arrives home from studying at a Yeshiva, a religious school.
Desperately unhappy, Levi is unable to communicate how he feels to his family. He would rather study to become an architect but feels he is letting his family down by wanting to take a different path. Unable to express his feelings, he considers taking his own life.
The film is the brainchild of Manchester-based political podcaster Eli Hassell.
He says the idea came after he'd spoken to many people in the Orthodox Jewish community who were struggling with their mental health.
Eli said: "I want young people in the community who are going through mental problems to be able to watch this film and realise there is a way out.
"I've seen a lot of it, a lot of younger people suffering with mental health and sometimes really bad cases, talking about suicide, it's tough seeing this."
Eli says while the community is self supporting, somewhere where everyone knows everyone else, that can also mean people can be apprehensive about sharing their problems in case others find out.
It means mental health issues can be internalised and get worse. And for young people like Levi in the film, who have a very particular path mapped out for then by their family, expressing how they feel can be very difficult.
Rabbi Avrohom Yeshaya Goldman was a consultant on the film.
Avrohom runs a 24-hour Jewish mental health helpline, based in Manchester.
He says that within the Jewish community, like the world at large, there is a stigma around talking about mental-health. B
He said: "It's so close the small Jewish community so whenever anyone struggles, they feel that this might be impact who I'm going to marry, might impact my siblings, my family. So much so that a father or a sibling or a mother might feel that their family might be better off without them."
He thinks the film is 'phenomenal' and will hopefully help to reduce the stigma around mental health.
It's hoped that the NHS will soon be using the film as a tool to get people talking when they work in the Jewish community.
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Daily Mirror
36 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Dark lonely life of Bonnie Blue from acid attack fears and seclusion to divorce
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Scottish Sun
an hour ago
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Watch as Rhian Sugden reveals new boobs in video following surgery to take her down FIVE cup sizes
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Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Tina O'Brien passionately kisses new interior design mogul boyfriend Adam Fadlé as they depart Jack P. Shepherd's wedding in the early hours
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MailOnline contacted Tina's representatives for comment at the time. It was revealed earlier this year that the Corrie star had split from her husband after weeks of speculation. She elevated her frame in a pair of pink heels and toted her belongings in a white handbag while Adam donned a smart navy suit with a white shirt The estranged couple, who share ten-year-old son Beau, are said to be 'on good terms' for the sake of their son but their differing lifestyles reportedly drove them apart. MailOnline revealed that Tina's partner Adam is the founder of interior design firm Panoramic Properties, which boasts big names including Paul Pogba and Cristiano Ronaldo as clients. Adam started his company back in 2010 from a spare bedroom in his parents home, and is now on track to become a millionaire, sharing in a previous interview that he fell in love with interior design at university. The practice specialises in luxury high-end residential interior design, and since its inception has amassed an array of celebrity clients. Sources have claimed that Tina and Adam have enjoyed a string of dates together after meeting through friends in Cheshire. Last month, it was reported that Tina had split from her husband Adam after seven years of marriage, after she was spotted without her wedding ring. Since starting his interior design firm, Adam has shared glimpses of his jet-setting lifestyle on social media, enjoying luxurious trips to Dubai, Bali and Sri Lanka. He previously revealed that one of his first big clients was Manchester City star Emmanuel Adebayor, working on several homes for him in London and Africa. This then led to him working with other Manchester-based players, such as Pogba and Yaya Touré. Adam's work on Pogba's former property showed lavish additions including a vast walk-in wardrobe, colourful graffiti in the bathroom and a football practice space decorated with fractured lighting panels. An image Pogba himself posted in 2021, showed him playing on table football in his games room, which was complete with a personalised pool table. Behind him, there is a wall of memorabilia from his career, with his indoor football pitch also boasted his initials as part of the quirky decor. Speaking to Manchester Evening News in 2022, Adam also revealed that he worked with Ronaldo to design properties for him during his time at United, after one of his clients rented out a home to the Portuguese star. He said of working with the footballing legend: 'Obviously Ronaldo's huge and he's got the most followers on Instagram in the world so you can't really get much bigger than him. 'We now deal with Ronaldo directly and make sure that he's looked after and everything is catered for him in his Manchester property. 'We also work with a lot of captains of industries which extends to a couple of billionaires. We've got some fantastic clients and we get to do some amazing, exciting projects all over the world where we can push the boat out in terms of our bespoke designs.' Panoramic Properties also won an award for the 'world's most luxurious home cinema' at The International Property Awards, and featured in The World's Leading Design Names in 2023. Adam also previously shared hopes to expand his business by opening new offices in Dubai and London. He told The Design Society: 'These include a range of high-end private residence refurbishments, a new build apartment block consisting solely of multi-million pound luxury apartments, several properties overseas, as well as ongoing work with our wonderful clients whom have been with us from the beginning.' He certainly seems to make the most of his time in the UAE, with social media snaps showing him enjoying luxurious yacht trips, private plane rides, and nights out at the boxing with loved ones. Adam's interior design success has only added to his bank balance, with documents filed to Companies House revealing his business boasts over £554,000 in assets. Tina met Crofts in a Manchester coffee shop in 2011 and the couple tied the knot in a surprise NYE ceremony in 2018. The star - who plays Sarah Platt in the ITV show - first sparked split rumours when she shared a photograph of herself at co-star Colson Smith's leaving party in Manchester. Taking to Instagram, Tina cut a glamorous figure in a red mini dress and posed with a bare ring finger on display, just weeks after jetting off on holiday without Crofts. She further fuelled the speculation as she was seen with a notably bare finger while out for a cup of tea in Cheshire. Friends then revealed the split as they said: 'Tina and Adam have ended their relationship and are spending some time apart. 'They moved house at Christmas and have decided to live separately for the time being. The insider told The Sun: 'Adam and Tina lead very different lives - he is really into his fitness, while she really enjoys going out with her mates and having a dance, which just isn't for him. 'It wasn't an issue at first because they were head over heels, but as the kids have started to grow up it's become more noticeable. Adam likes a quiet life and unfortunately that just isn't Tina.'
