Mental Health Treatment Gains Acceptance in Haredi Community

The Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) community in Israel is experiencing a significant shift in its attitude towards mental health treatment, moving from widespread stigma and concealment to greater acceptance and demand for professional help. While challenges and lingering hesitations remain, the conversation around therapy and psychological support has become more open and normalized.

A striking example of this change involved a seminary in Bnei Brak that insisted a student receive emotional therapy for personal difficulties, even threatening expulsion if her parents refused. This intervention, involving a prominent rabbi, underscores the growing recognition that mental well-being is crucial, akin to physical health.

Experts like clinical social worker Aliza Unger, who has worked in the field for 36 years, recall a time when offering free mental health services to Haredi institutions was met with outright rejection. Today, the situation is nearly reversed, with complaints about a lack of available therapists and insufficient budgets to meet the demand. This transformation is attributed to the community's growth and dispersal, increased awareness, and a burgeoning number of Haredi mental health professionals.

Rabbi Aryeh Monk, CEO of 'Beit Chaim,' a long-standing organization in this field, also notes the profound change. Thirty years ago, the stigma was so high that opening a mental health clinic in Elad involved debates about separate entrances to avoid patients encountering each other. Now, such concerns are largely absent, though the article highlights that the transition is far from complete.

The article also addresses the complexities of choosing the right professional, differentiating between social workers, psychologists, and psychiatrists, and cautioning against unqualified practitioners offering "hocus pocus" solutions. It emphasizes the importance of verifying credentials and experience, especially given the community's tendency to rely on recommendations. Lingering concerns about the impact on future marriage prospects (shidduchim) and the financial burden of private therapy also persist, alongside a preference for therapists who understand the Haredi lifestyle and values. Even within the rabbinical community, there has been a process of education to help identify individuals needing professional psychological support.