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Comments (0)The mental health needs of the haredi Orthodox and Chasidic communities are not being sufficiently addressed, according to a new Yeshiva University study.
The study said that service gaps are particularly pronounced in those communities.
Eliezer Schnall, a YU psychology professor who led the research team, was to present his findings Aug. 13 in San Diego, Calif., at the annual convention of the American Psychological Association.
Researchers asked approximately 250 Orthodox mental health professionals to assess the state of services offered to the Orthodox community today compared to 25 years ago. The 100 respondents perceived little if any improvement, particularly among the Chasidim.
Schnall called the results a “wake-up call,” and said there is still a stigma in the Orthodox community attached to mental illness that prevents people from seeking help. An additional factor impeding good mental health services is their cost, he said.
The study showed that the most common problem for which Orthodox Jews seek mental health services is marital difficulties. More services for children and teenagers are needed, and there is a lack of services for substance abuse problems, the report found.
Most respondents said few of their patients were referred by their rabbis. Researchers said this indicates the need to train Orthodox rabbis to recognize mental illness and understand that proper treatment can help.
Fla. Inmates Can Get Kosher Food Soon
Florida prison inmates requesting kosher food will be able to join a meal plan supervised by the Aleph Institute.
Gov. Charlie Crist recently signed a directive ordering the Department of Corrections to provide kosher food to inmates.
The kosher meal plan, run by the Aleph Institute Jewish prisoners’ rights organization founded by Chabad-Lubavitch of Bal Harbour, is set to begin Aug. 16 on a trial basis in a South Florida prison.
The institute has worked 15 years to secure kosher food for Florida’s Jewish inmates, director Rabbi Menachem Katz said in an interview with Chabad.org.
Kosher style has been provided in state prisons, but this will be the first time that the food is under rabbinic supervision.
Federation Seeking Nominees for Hero Award
The Jewish Federations of North America has opened voting for its community hero nominees.
One community hero of the year and four finalists will be recognized at the federations’ General Assembly in New Orleans Nov. 7-9. A panel of judges will select the winner from the 20 nominees who receive the most online support. That person will receive a $25,000 grant to support his or her work.
People are encouraged to vote online to recognize Jewish volunteers who serve their communities as a first step to repairing the world.
Last year’s community hero, Ari Teman, the founder of JCorps, said the grant money allowed him “to get many more people involved in service projects around the world.”
The 2009 campaign attracted more than 500,000 online votes for hundreds of nominees, according to the Jewish Federations.