This weekend synagogue’s around the country will be taking part in Jami’s Mental Health Shabbat. This is an important opportunity for Jewish communities - for our community - to raise the profile of mental health.
Good mental health is something upon which all humanity depend; as a group or an individual we can only flourish with good awareness of, and tactics for looking after, our minds.
When I was younger mental health was not something commonly spoken about, particularly in public, but thankfully times have changed.
I feel comfortable speaking with family, friends and others about their challenges with mental health and likewise, comfortable sharing my own struggles and successes too. Indeed, speaking with others is perhaps the first and most vital step to addressing one's own battles with mental health. It is through our conversation and interactions with others that we realise we are not alone in our struggles and may find support, camaraderie and methodology in addressing these serious causes of distress.
I speak from personal experience.
My own journey with mental health has been a long and complicated one.
As a primary school aged child, my parents and teachers noted my tendency toward hyperactivity, issues with focusing and mood swings. As my family sort help for me I recall visiting doctors, psychologists and other mental health professionals and hearing terms like “Dyslexia,” and “ADHD”.
I didn't really understand what these terms meant. As I left primary school I felt exhausted, upset and even more prone to extreme mood swings; one moment feeling ecstatic or overjoyed and the next feeling angry or melancholy.
In this week’s Parasha, Parashat Bo, the vivid depiction of the plague of locusts might be likened to these feelings. One moment the Land of Egypt is calm and tranquil but suddenly an easterly wind brings forth a thick mass of locusts. So abundant the locusts that:
It was only as I got older, perhaps into my late teens and then at university, that I began to feel a sense of understanding and control over my own mental health. At university there was a lot more awareness amongst students and staff about psychological and emotional well-being. In my first year I recall sitting with some fellow-students and having each person share their own struggles with mental health. I felt encouraged to talk more openly about my feelings, particularly my mood swings.
In my second year a close friend suggested that I should visit the university's health centre and speak with one of the doctors there about managing these feelings. I explained to the doctor that, whilst I felt intellectually aware that things were going well in life, my emotions did not always match this reality.
I described how often, for no apparent reason, a cloud of depression would descend upon me, smothering my positive feelings with pain and angst.
After several appointments the doctor prescribed me with some medication that greatly reduced my mood swings and my anxiety began to subside. I was fortunate - medication is not right for everyone - but it helped me.
However, the real takeaway from my time at university was that it encouraged me to both listen and talk to others about mental health. Importantly the realisation that in doing so we help multiple parties; ourselves as well as those with whom we are able to have these essential conversations.
Today I generally feel positive and in control of my mental health. Though of course, I still have rough periods. There are days when it is difficult to get out of bed, let alone motivate myself to do something productive. Yet speaking with others whether family, friends, a therapist, or within a monthly sharing group - really help!
By having multiple ways to support ourselves and others we can make it through even the most difficult of times. Should you require support I encourage you to:
Good mental health is something upon which all humanity depend; as a group or an individual we can only flourish with good awareness of, and tactics for looking after, our minds.
When I was younger mental health was not something commonly spoken about, particularly in public, but thankfully times have changed.
I feel comfortable speaking with family, friends and others about their challenges with mental health and likewise, comfortable sharing my own struggles and successes too. Indeed, speaking with others is perhaps the first and most vital step to addressing one's own battles with mental health. It is through our conversation and interactions with others that we realise we are not alone in our struggles and may find support, camaraderie and methodology in addressing these serious causes of distress.
I speak from personal experience.
My own journey with mental health has been a long and complicated one.
As a primary school aged child, my parents and teachers noted my tendency toward hyperactivity, issues with focusing and mood swings. As my family sort help for me I recall visiting doctors, psychologists and other mental health professionals and hearing terms like “Dyslexia,” and “ADHD”.
I didn't really understand what these terms meant. As I left primary school I felt exhausted, upset and even more prone to extreme mood swings; one moment feeling ecstatic or overjoyed and the next feeling angry or melancholy.
In this week’s Parasha, Parashat Bo, the vivid depiction of the plague of locusts might be likened to these feelings. One moment the Land of Egypt is calm and tranquil but suddenly an easterly wind brings forth a thick mass of locusts. So abundant the locusts that:
וַיְכַס אֶת־עֵין כׇּל־הָאָרֶץ וַתֶּחְשַׁךְ הָאָרֶץIndeed, periods of depression and anxiety can stop us from seeing all the good in our lives; the light through the darkness.
They hid all the land from view, and the land was darkened...
It was only as I got older, perhaps into my late teens and then at university, that I began to feel a sense of understanding and control over my own mental health. At university there was a lot more awareness amongst students and staff about psychological and emotional well-being. In my first year I recall sitting with some fellow-students and having each person share their own struggles with mental health. I felt encouraged to talk more openly about my feelings, particularly my mood swings.
In my second year a close friend suggested that I should visit the university's health centre and speak with one of the doctors there about managing these feelings. I explained to the doctor that, whilst I felt intellectually aware that things were going well in life, my emotions did not always match this reality.
I described how often, for no apparent reason, a cloud of depression would descend upon me, smothering my positive feelings with pain and angst.
After several appointments the doctor prescribed me with some medication that greatly reduced my mood swings and my anxiety began to subside. I was fortunate - medication is not right for everyone - but it helped me.
However, the real takeaway from my time at university was that it encouraged me to both listen and talk to others about mental health. Importantly the realisation that in doing so we help multiple parties; ourselves as well as those with whom we are able to have these essential conversations.
Today I generally feel positive and in control of my mental health. Though of course, I still have rough periods. There are days when it is difficult to get out of bed, let alone motivate myself to do something productive. Yet speaking with others whether family, friends, a therapist, or within a monthly sharing group - really help!
By having multiple ways to support ourselves and others we can make it through even the most difficult of times. Should you require support I encourage you to:
make an appointment with your GP,
get in touch with JAMI - the mental health service for the Jewish community,
visit or be in touch with the Hertfordshire Mind Network
or, if you do need signposting, please be in touch with me for a confidential conversation.
Importantly when we are in crisis or feeling extremely low, we must remember that, like the plague of locusts, this moment is only temporary. Together we can be like the strong westerly wind that removed them from the land and ended the suffering of the Egyptians. Together we can hold each other through tough moments and together come back to the light.
Shabbat Shalom!
get in touch with JAMI - the mental health service for the Jewish community,
visit or be in touch with the Hertfordshire Mind Network
or, if you do need signposting, please be in touch with me for a confidential conversation.
Importantly when we are in crisis or feeling extremely low, we must remember that, like the plague of locusts, this moment is only temporary. Together we can be like the strong westerly wind that removed them from the land and ended the suffering of the Egyptians. Together we can hold each other through tough moments and together come back to the light.
Shabbat Shalom!
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