The advocacy work that I do through my writing and public speaking and the work that is done through community events that take place during Mental Health Awareness Week, can be life-saving. My friend Benny Green made a video several years ago as part of a fundraising campaign for his mother's organization Avnei Chen where he spoke about how the death by suicide of a close friend impacted him on a personal level. I recently met a fellow writer at a Shabbat meal - when I sent him an article where I discuss my mental health struggles he told me that he had a sister who died by suicide. He encouraged me to continue to be vulnerable and share my story and explained that his personal connection to this issue is why my advocacy work means so much to him. 
My vulnerability and openness often invites others to share their story. I was trying to explain to a medical professional why I hadn't been to his clinic for nearly two years. I slipped back into a depression, isolated myself and engaged in self-harm behaviors including many suicide attempts. He responded by revealing to me that his brother-in-law died the same way as a result of trauma he experienced in his childhood that he could not get past. These are but a few examples that remind us that in addition to being debilitating and painful, mental illness decreases
life expectancy and can also be fatal.
These personal struggles are mirrored by societal ones, and nowhere is this more evident than in the current debates in the United States. President Trump's executive order "Ending Crime and Disorder on America's Streets" sparked controversy on the topic of homelessness and brings to light the real-world impact untreated mental illness can have on society. People living on the street are clearly suffering - but some argue that it is their right to choose this "lifestyle" regardless of the impact that vagrancy and homeless encampments have on local law-abiding residents. The senseless murder of Irena Zarutzka, a refugee from war-torn Ukraine by a repeat offender who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, led to renewed discussion regarding law and order, specifically, what does responsible and equitable policing look like, especially with regard to repeat offenders and individuals with drug addiction and mental illness.
Is it the proper role of the government to force addicts into rehab so that they will not be a burden to society? Will mass incarceration or stationing the National Guard in cities across America really offer lasting safety?
Recent conservative policy debates have highlighted the crisis of fatherlessness. They have argued that addressing the underlying issue of fatherlessness is critical to solving the epidemic of youth and gang violence. In addition to strengthening the American family, I would encourage public policy experts in the US to learn from the mental health systems in Israel and the impact recent reforms have had as a template for treating these underlying issues. Yes, it is the right and the responsibility of government to institutionalize people who are a public nuisance or pose a public safety threat. However, it is much more compassionate and fiscally sound to prevent individuals from deteriorating to the point where they become homeless or require involuntary hospitalization.
Certainly these programs and reforms will not prevent all crime - an individual must first want to get better and be willing to accept the help that is offered. Through my public speaking and advocacy, I hope to inform and persuade researchers, community leaders and government officials of the benefit of comprehensive mental health intervention. Just as it is important to address the underlying causes for juvenile delinquency, effective support for addiction and mental illness must be considered when discussing community safety and public policy proposals.
Patricia Deegan and Marsha Linehan, two famous American mental health advocates, transformed the way mental illness is treated in Israel. It is time for mental health advocates in Israel to return the favor. I consider it my duty to share my story of how these interventions helped me and I am committed to bringing these Israeli models of recovery to US institutions to spark change.
In Israel there is also a looming mental health crisis. A 2017 study found that 18% of the adult population reported experiencing mental distress that was difficult to cope with alone in the previous year. Studies conducted after the October 7, 2023, attacks and the subsequent war show a significant increase in PTSD, anxiety and depression. (Please see the Notes section at the end of the article for additional facts and statistics regarding the prevalence of mental illness in Israel.)
My biggest concern is that this need is not adequately being met. The "treatment gap" (the difference between those who need services and those who receive them) is attributed to several factors including the desire for self-reliance, belief - or lack thereof - in treatment efficacy, lack of information, and cost. Stigma also plays a role, with a significant proportion of the population expressing stigmatizing views toward individuals with mental illness.
These statistics highlight a significant unmet need for mental health services in Israel which demonstrates the urgency for public advocacy on this topic. Breaking the stigma surrounding mental illness and raising awareness of services and resources available can transform lives.
It is within the framework of Sal Shikum and Mental Health Awareness Week that I first became an author and public speaker. Four years ago (December 2021), I was invited to participate in an event called ספרים אנושיים, loosely translated "Living Books," or "Books as People." I was asked to write two stories related to my life ahead of the event to read out loud in front of a live audience. I was joined by several writers who, like me, experience mental health challenges. In the entrance to the room the "covers" of our books were on display. We were not the authors - we were the living books. This was not my first time speaking. A year prior I was part of a literary event they organized for Mental Health Awareness Week 2020, which actually took place on zoom as we were still in the early Covid-19 era.
I had been invited to speak at this previous event because one of the organizers had seen an article I had written on the topic and had heard of speeches I had given a few years prior to that. When I first began to recover from major depression eight years ago, I was attending a vocational/rehabilitation program through Enosh. Amir, the director of the Beit Shemesh branch approached me and invited me to speak to a group of high school students who were scheduled to visit our program as part of a week long journey called "Masa Yisraeli." The itinerary leads the students to understand themselves as an individual, themselves as a member of their peer group and finally as a citizen of a country. Getting to see individuals with mental illness up close was a transformative experience for these impressionable teenagers. It was empowering to me to see myself as someone of influence and I was grateful to have the opportunity to have a positive impact on these young minds.
About the Author
- Slides for Speech - Vocational Support
- Lecture in English - My Road to Recovery
- שבוע בריאות הנפש 2020 מהי הסטיגמה עבורי? - This is the speech I read during the event in December 2020. The topic was stigma in general and how stigma regarding mental illness impacted me personally and my journey to recovery.
- סיפורים אנושיים - These are the two stories I prepared for the event that took place December 2021.
- Hasimla Nikria: This story is written in Hebrew - it is a humorous account of how I tore my beautiful, new, green and black silk skirt at my son's bar mitzva. My goal was to convey to the audience how mental illness influences my experience as a Mom.
- Willful Misperception: This story is written in English - it portrays some of the challenges an individual with mental illness faces when interacting with mental health professionals who don't always approach their clients with sensitivity or respect. Luckily, not all professionals are like the case worker I described in this story. I have had many positive experiences - these kind and incredible people are the reason I have been able to overcome so many obstacles to be where I am today. However, stories like the one I describe in "Willful Misperception" are important because of how crushing it can be to be denigrated by the people you trusted the most. It is precisely this kind of behavior that discourages people like me from continuing to reach out for help.
- ASCA a 12-step program for recovery from childhood trauma
- Amudim Mental Health and Addiction Support
- Avnei Chen - An organization based in Beit Shemesh that supports individuals and their families facing mental health challenges.
- Amitim Lezechuyot Website
- Enosh
- Amitim Lebogrim
- Behind the Faces
Facts and statistics on the prevalence of mental illness in Israel
- The prevalence of probable PTSD among adult Jewish Israelis almost doubled from a baseline of 16.2% before the attacks to 29.8% afterward. A separate study among adult Jewish Israelis who were not directly exposed to the horrors of October 7 found that about 23% suffer from PTSD.
- The prevalence of probable Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) increased from 24.9% before the attack to 42.7% after, and probable depression increased from 31.3% to 44.8%.
- The Taub Center for Social Policy Studies in Israel estimated that the number of people with serious and persistent mental illness and their caregivers is about 350,000-400,000, though the overall number with emotional problems is much higher.
- Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute published a study that indicates that over half of the respondents who reported mental distress in the previous year noted that these symptoms considerably impaired their daily functioning.
- Approximately one-third (about 33% to 36%) of individuals in Israel who report experiencing mental distress seek professional help, such as from a psychiatrist, psychologist, or family physician.
- Among those diagnosed with specific mood or anxiety disorders, this rate increases to about 50%.
- Factors impacting the treatment gap: self-reliance (49%), belief in treatment efficacy (40%), lack of information (32%), cost (32%).
Dignity Redefined - A Lecture Series on Recovery & Mental Illness
About Me:
I am a speech therapist working in both a school and private practice. Living with major depression, I use my personal journey to inspire and educate others about mental health.
Purpose of the Lecture:
In this lecture, I share insights from my lived experience and practical knowledge of community resources. My goal is to raise awareness and break the stigma surrounding mental health.
Key Takeaways:
This lecture offers insights into the personal experience of mental health challenges and highlights the practical impact of comprehensive support and various treatments. You’ll learn how these tools can ease distress and empower individuals to lead fulfilling lives despite the difficulties.
Topics We’ll Cover:
Sal Shikum and other Rehabilitation Services
Accessing Psychological and Psychiatric Care
The vital role of friends, family, and community
Vocational support and Employment Opportunities
Book a speaking Engagement
I am a speech therapist working in both a school and private practice. Living with major depression, I use my personal journey to inspire and educate others about mental health.
Purpose of the Lecture:
In this lecture, I share insights from my lived experience and practical knowledge of community resources. My goal is to raise awareness and break the stigma surrounding mental health.
Key Takeaways:
This lecture offers insights into the personal experience of mental health challenges and highlights the practical impact of comprehensive support and various treatments. You’ll learn how these tools can ease distress and empower individuals to lead fulfilling lives despite the difficulties.
Topics We’ll Cover:
Sal Shikum and other Rehabilitation Services
Accessing Psychological and Psychiatric Care
The vital role of friends, family, and community
Vocational support and Employment Opportunities
Book a speaking Engagement
call: 055-938-5368
email: DinaPolishuk@gmail.com
