Charlotte Jewish Community Youth Mental Health & Well-Being Survey
The mental health challenges of our youth and young adults have been growing over the past few years. Rates of depression, anxiety, and stress are all increasing. The Jewish community wants to ensure that the mental health needs of our youth and young adults are being addressed. Through a grant from the Jewish Federations of North America, we are conducting a needs assessment to determine the best ways to address these needs.
This survey is an opportunity to provide your input and insight on this topic in order to assess needs and ensure appropriate services are available. The survey is intended for young people ages 12-26 and should take roughly 10-15 minutes to complete.
This survey is completely anonymous. If at any point while taking this survey you need immediate help, please call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or chat 988Lifeline.org to connect with a Crisis Counselor.
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1.
Please answer the following questions to the best of your ability by answering whether you agree or disagree with each statement.
Please check only one box in each row.
If you feel the statement does not apply to you, select N/A (Not Applicable). As a reminder, this survey is completely anonymous.
(Required.)
Strongly Disagree
Disagree
Neither Agree Nor Disagree
Agree
Strongly Agree
N/A
I feel comfortable talking openly about the role of mental health in my life.
Strongly Disagree
Disagree
Neither Agree Nor Disagree
Agree
Strongly Agree
N/A
If needed, I would feel comfortable seeking out professional treatment for my mental health.
Strongly Disagree
Disagree
Neither Agree Nor Disagree
Agree
Strongly Agree
N/A
I know where I can go for support with my mental health.
Strongly Disagree
Disagree
Neither Agree Nor Disagree
Agree
Strongly Agree
N/A
I am currently or have previously received mental health therapy.
Strongly Disagree
Disagree
Neither Agree Nor Disagree
Agree
Strongly Agree
N/A
I have been satisfied with the therapy I have received.
Strongly Disagree
Disagree
Neither Agree Nor Disagree
Agree
Strongly Agree
N/A
I worry that I am not able to help my friends struggling with a mental health issue.
Strongly Disagree
Disagree
Neither Agree Nor Disagree
Agree
Strongly Agree
N/A
My connection to Judaism is a resource that can help me cope when I am in a mental health crisis situation.
Strongly Disagree
Disagree
Neither Agree Nor Disagree
Agree
Strongly Agree
N/A
People in the Jewish community (such as rabbis or religious schoolteachers) are a resource that can help me cope when I am in a mental health crisis situation.
Strongly Disagree
Disagree
Neither Agree Nor Disagree
Agree
Strongly Agree
N/A
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2.
I have previously found it difficult to get connected with mental health services.
(Required.)
Strongly Disagree
Disagree
Neither Agree Nor Disagree
Agree
Strongly Agree
N/A
Strongly Disagree
Disagree
Neither Agree Nor Disagree
Agree
Strongly Agree
N/A
*
3.
If you have experienced difficulty, why? (Please check all that apply)
(Required.)
Lack of insurance or financial ability to pay for services
Transportation
Parental/Guardian Support
Unable to find therapist
Not Applicable
Other (please specify)
If at any point while taking this survey you need immediate help, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or chat 988Lifeline.org to connect with a Crisis Counselor.
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4.
Please select THREE of the following sources you would MOST LIKELY turn to for information about mental health:
(Required.)
Internet and online articles
Friends
Parents and family
School resources (teachers, guidance counselors, social workers, etc.)
Synagogue and youth group resources (Rabbis, youth group leaders, UMatter, etc.)
Social media (YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok)
Mental health professionals
Lectures or workshops offered in the community
Books
Jewish Organizations (please specify)
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5.
Please select THREE of the following sources you would LEAST LIKELY turn to for information about mental health:
(Required.)
Internet and online articles
Friends
Parents and family
School resources (teachers, guidance counselors, social workers, etc.)
Synagogue and youth group resources (Rabbis, youth group leaders, UMatter, etc.)
Social media (YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok)
Mental health professionals
Lectures or workshops offered in the community
Books
Jewish Organizations
*
6.
Have you accessed any of the following mental health supports? (Check all that apply)
(Required.)
Jewish Family Services
Non-Jewish Counseling Agency
School-based mental health services (ex. school social worker or college counseling center)
Private therapy practice or private psychiatrist
Peers or friends
Family
Rabbi/Clergy
Coach, Mentor, Teacher you are connected to
Crisis hotline or crisis text line
I have not accessed any of these services.
I have not needed any of these supports.
*
7.
In the boxes below, select THREE of the following types of support you would feel MOST COMFORTABLE turning to if you or a friend needed mental health support.
(Required.)
Jewish Family Services
Non-Jewish Counseling Agency
School-based mental health services (ex. school social worker or college counseling center)
Private therapy practice or private psychiatrist
Peers or friends
Family
Rabbi/Clergy
Coach, Mentor, Teacher you are connected to
Crisis hotline or crisis text line
*
8.
Do you or have you in the past experienced any of the following? (check all that apply)
(Required.)
Excessive worrying, fear, or anxiety
Feeling excessively sad or low
Extreme mood changes, including uncontrollable “highs” or uncontrollable “lows”
Repetitive, unwanted, and intrusive thoughts or irrational, excessive urges to do certain actions
An intense fear of weight gain or concern with body image
Difficulty telling what’s real or not (such as seeing or hearing things that aren’t there)
Overuse of substances like alcohol or drugs
Avoiding friends and social activities because of social anxiety
Thoughts of suicide
Inability to manage daily activities or handle daily problems and stress
Being bullied at school or elsewhere
Low self esteem
Loneliness or social isolation
Self-injury such as cutting or other self-harm
Not Applicable
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9.
If offered, would you be interested in attending any of the following programs? (check all that apply)
(Required.)
Workshops on understanding eating disorders
Workshop for dealing with academic stress/college pressure
Workshop for dealing with social media/technology stress
Mental wellness support group
Sexual orientation and gender identity support group
Support and resources for Jews of Color
Managing anxiety surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic
Creating balance in life (ex. exercising, nutrition, self-care, mindfulness techniques, etc.)
Other (please specify)
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10.
What services do you believe are lacking to provide mental health support to youth and young adults in the Greater Charlotte Jewish community? (Check all that apply)
(Required.)
Individual Counseling
Group Counseling
Peer support
Family Counseling
Parenting education
Substance Abuse Treatment
Other (please specify)
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11.
What do you think should be the TOP THREE priorities to better support teen/young adult mental health and well-being in the Charlotte Jewish community? (Choose three to comment on)
(Required.)
Educate the public (e.g., normalize mental health issues, specify where to get help)
Have proactive conversations with young people about mental health and warning signs
Help adults who work with young people (e.g., offer professional development and trainings)
Help parents (e.g., support groups, how to talk to young people about mental health)
Help schools (e.g., assess mental health needs, offer a “chill room” or mental health specialist)
Increase access to prevention and wellness programs/resources for young people
Increase access to programs/resources for young people already experiencing mental health issues
I don’t know
Other (please specify)
12.
What do you think the Jewish community could/should do to better support teen/young adult mental health and well-being?
13.
Is there anything we did not ask about that you would like to share?
*
14.
What is your age?
(Required.)
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
*
15.
Do you or does someone in your immediate family identify as Jewish in some way (including ethnically, culturally, or religiously)?
(Required.)
Yes
No
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16.
My gender is: (please indicate your gender)
(Required.)
*
17.
Have you been a part of any of the following Jewish institutions in the past 12 months? (check all that apply)
(Required.)
Synagogue or Religious School
Jewish Day School
Hebrew High
Youth Group/Leadership Program (BBYO, Synagogue Youth Group, Friendship Circle/UMatter, USY, B’nei Akiva, NCSY, NFTY etc.)
Jewish Summer Camp
Jewish travel program (Israel travel, USY On Wheels, Birthright, etc.)
College Hillel or Chabad
Post College Organizations
Other (please specify)
None of the above
Thank you for completing this survey!
If you need help, please reach out! Call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or chat 988Lifeline.org to connect with a Crisis Counselor.
For more info about mental health services, contact JFS at 704-364-6594 or info@jfscharlotte.org.
