Rabbis taught to tackle stigma of mental illness

MEMBERS of the Rabbinical Council of Victoria (RCV) are hoping to destigmatise mental illness within the Jewish community, after graduating from a professional training course in which they learnt about issues of mental health, available treatments and the importance of moral support.

Completed last week, the 12-hour Mental Health First Aid Course (MHFAC) equipped the rabbis with knowledge and skills to assist people stricken with mental ailments.

They were taught how to recognise the signs and symptoms of mental health problems and gain knowledge of possible causes and risk factors. They were also advised on giving appropriate support to people developing a mental illness, or already in a crisis situation.

The RCV now encourages all of its members to promote communal awareness of mental health issues from the pulpit and monitor changing perceptions from within the ­congregation.

RCV president Rabbi Yaakov Glasman said there is a tradition within the community of concealing issues of mental health “for fear of stigmatisation”.

“People are often unashamed to talk about their open heart surgery, back operation or a myriad of other physical health issues, but very few are comfortable disclosing that they suffer from anxiety, depression, psychosis or other mental illnesses.

“This is an unfortunate part of our culture and something we hope to change through education,” he said.

Rabbi Glasman said 20 per cent of the population suffers from mental illness and the “Jewish community is no exception”. The prevalence of mental health issues imbues the rabbinical body with a greater responsibility, he added.

“The RCV views seriously its role of providing leadership to the Jewish community and the MHFAC constitutes another significant step forward in this regard,” he said.

“The program forms part of the RCV’s ongoing efforts to equip our rabbis with skills which will enable them to provide the community with support across a wide range of areas, not limited to matters of religion.”

The training was provided in consultation with community organisations operating in the sphere of mental health, to minimise the duplication of resources and effort. The course was run with the support of such organisations, in the joint effort to change community prejudices.

TIMNA JACKS