New York – The mental health needs of the Orthodox community are not being sufficiently addressed, according to a new study from Yeshiva University.
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The service gaps are particularly pronounced in the haredi Orthodox and Chasidic communities, according to the study.
Eliezer Schnall, a YU psychology professor who led the research team, was to present his findings Aug. 13 in San Diego at the annual convention of the American Psychological Association.
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.
Read the full story at The JTA
perhaps this is because the chasidim used to sweep all their problems under the rug and make belive they didnt exist. now that some are actually out there looking for help of course they are underserved.
I would assume that the findings in this study are 95-100% correct. However, the real question is whether providing more psychological help to the Chasidish community is the answer or does their lifestyle require more fundamental changes as to preemptively prevent many of these issues…?
so true!!!
Sorry, but Orthodox Rabbis are not medical personnel and are not trained to deal with some mentally ill people. Some cases, maybe but in many cases they may do more harm than good if the person does not get the proper help and in some cases medication!! In EY there are 40 children who are DEAD at the hands of their family members, and the Rabbis are saying NOTHING!! It is Elul!! These were children some killed at the hands of their parents and the Rabbinate in SILENT!! WHY?? I hope VIN posts this!!
Sad but true
While I hope that this comment doesn’t spur any backlash or any yeshiva/community loshon hara, I want to point out that I think that YU is the best place to conduct such a study. One needs an institution that has an understanding of frumkeit and can somewhat understand the chasidish community and inflitrate into their very insular world. However, the institution also needs to be up-to-date on modern science and psychological thought. YU seems to really fit that mold.
Please if anyone disagrees with either of the above two statements, either remain silent or comment in a refined and dignified manner that only addresses the core issues.
#4 , Very true. Rabbis may be well educated in Torah and great community leaders. That doesn’t make them doctors or clinical psychologists. A wise man recognizes his limits.
Dr. Schnall’s research obviously wasn’t thorough enough.
The mental health needs in the frum was revolutionized by an organization called Relief Resources. Over the last 10 years Relief fielded over 25,000 phone calls from the frum community and guided them to over 1,000 mental health professionals.
They were successful in removing the stigma associated with mental health. Most of the Rebbes, Rabbanim, and Roshei Yeshiva are closely in touch with Relief’s founder and President Sendy Hornstein and it’s director Rabbi Babad and staff in NY, NJ, Canada and Israel.
As a beneficiary of Relief, I advise Dr. Schnall to spend his time and efforts supporting Relief instead of conducting research projects that serve no purpose.
There is an organization in Boro Park called Relief they made 30,000 plus referrals to professionals in the past 10 years for our community
Sadly nothing will change because there are no concerned leaders who are willing to take bold and unpopular actions these days. The sex abuse cases have demonstrated that. Without spreading any lashon hora, there is a crisis in Williamsburg of young Hassidic adult males between 19-27 who experiment with alcohol, drugs, and seek out prostitutes. I have a friend who is a psychologist and works for a large non profit studying at risk youth. He observes back allies and shady places across NYC to understand the social problems from these people. You won’t believe the things he sees affecting the Jewish communities while adults and rabbis are clueless or can’t even comprehend the causes and solutions.
Just to clarify a point that seems to be confusing some people – most professors in YU are not rabbis. Most students in YU do not study to become rabbis. The rebbeim teach in the various yeshiva programs in YU. The researchers involved in this study are first and foremost academics.
What progress if your parents have an addiction problem u get made fun of and schools dont accept u
I can attest to the facts in this article having two family members in the mental health field in the greater Monsey area. Generally, they come only after years and years of suffering and only when they finally realize the rav does not have their best interest at hand. And yes, so many of them are women suffering spousal abuse. The culture needs to address this big time before the house of cards falls. Sad.
Most Chassideshe rabbonim have taken a much more positive and transparent approach to mental health issues than Litvashe rabbonim who seem stuck in old-World european atitudes that mental health issues are somthing to be ashamed of. Again, Lubavitch takes the lead in these issues but several other chassidus have also taken some step to encourage mental health treatment.
I think the world in general is going Meshugga and so are Jewish people. If the world around us is going crazy – what’s the point in staying normal? Would we by definition – by being different than society be considered crazy? Let’s get wild – and chill and enjoy life – in a Torah way of course…
Like all other so called “studies” fully backed by an agenda.
I am a volunteer to help with mental patients in Williamsburg, I have a friend (who actually pulled me in to this great cause) who devotes day and night to address mentally ill ppl and phsyc cases, we would give simple support, and refer to specialists in the field.
Were also in touch with a great organization called “relief”, with a full staff of men and women specializing in this field.
I would really love to hear of such a group or organization at the MONTH community or in the secular world.
As far as I know the chassidic world treats mental patients exactly as would any secular jew or non jew, except for the fact that chassidic jews like to go to top doctors, and they get the support and help for that.
In my eyes this article is just to make some irking noise, and try once more to attempt to “pat myself on the back” cuz I found something that I am better than the ultra frum yid.
I have a neighbor a hatzolah member in Willi that spends most hours of the day taking care of such patients, he places those who need it – in proper health care facilities, giving advice and support for the family, and has a couple of local rabbonim who are in close contact with doctors and professionals, and give support and much more to patients and families.
Boruch Hashem, I think that in a time when in most of the country a mental patient would be ‘dumped’ in an institution or hospital, the chasidish communities have special people assisting in this difficult field.
The full of baloney article is obviously just another attempt by a frum hater to try and besmirch the frum community with a big lie that does simply not exist, it is well known the organizations, Rabonim and many volunteers in chasidic communities dealing with such cases day after day. I love to see some comments where all anti semites anti observant commentators just out of their mice holes jumping up with excitement for another opportunity to mock and bash charedim.
While it is right that what we have is not enough but YU doesn’t know the community well enough. There is a medical Center in Williamsburg that started addressing Mental health and is very successful in addressing the need. They are from the community for the community. I am a patient of Dr Lefkowitz that Practices there and feel very comfortable going there as it is a multi specialty Center so the stigma of someone seeing you is gone. There are many doctors there and one does not have to feel they are going to a mental health office only. Dr Lefkowitz is a real Mentch. He comes from New Jersey but knows and understands the Chassidishe world and its stresses very well to be able to address and help a patient in need.
Instead of Yu spending money on a study that is negative why do they not look into making those wonderful organizations like Satmar Bikur Cholim that assist patients with paying for their mental health services. As we know that reimbursements for mental health is nill and it’s not so much people not wanting to go for help but the fact that they cannot afford the help. YU should make a study of how many insurances pay for mental health and how one that has stresses and needs to go for help can afford the hundreds of dollars for a single visit and then the medications that he has to absorb. If you have a father that needs help but has to choose between feeding his family , paying bills, tuition, clothing or his mental health, which one will do you think he will choose? The Chassidishe parent is the most devoted parent and that is maybe why they have more need for mental healthcare. Let them look into a study of how to solve this problem.
I do not think that the Chassidishe world’s needs are less met than outside of the Chassidishe world. It is only that percentage Chassidim multiply a lot quicker than the YU community. With large families come more stresses, and because of its close knit large communities we are more visible. It happens to be that Chassidim handle mental stress much better than other communities as Chassidis comes with strength and strong faith and we have commited wonderful organizations to reach out to. A Chussad is never alone!! He has an entire community to rally for him and he know with his strong Eminah that Hashen will send his help through the most wonderful Chassidishe organizations in the word! Wherever there is a happening in the world let it be tragic or otherwise Chassidim will always be the first ones to respond! This shows their Mental capacity of Strength! Chassidim do have the strongest coping mechanism. For those unfortunate ones that are either losing it or have lost it I say “Do not despair, talk to your Chassidishe friends. They will surely come through for you!
#26 , you appear to be a bit naïve by thinking that there was any study done here, apparently it was just a write up by a YU student in his dorm room, based solely on his pen and imagination, and is totally baseless. BTW, your point of the chasidic bikur cholim’s caring for patients and their expenses was a strong and valid point, based on daily facts.
For years some leaders in the Williamsburg community have asked Ohel Mental Health Services to come in and make their services available. Ohel’s response was they are not sure Williamsburg will patronize them. If the public has an opinion about this please speak up. Ohelfamily services is the biggest provider of mental health services in the state. Do you think the Williamsburg community will embrace them or Shun them?
May we be honest for just a moment? Overpopulation, overcrowding of facilities and schools, no education, no professional or vocational training, no outlets as in exercise, hobbies etc (especially for men), no financial planning for individuals or the community and a demonizing of everyone and everything in the universe is not a recipe for mental health.
Sadly, leadership, is, for the most part, either (in the worst case scenario) indifferent to all the above or (in the best case scenario) sincerely pledged to the dogmas which have yielded the whole mess.
For so long as Uncle Sam is the unwitting enabler of this dysfunction (by providing enough taxpayer money to just keep it afloat) it may plod on, with much human wreckage strewn in its wake.
May the Ribbono shel Olam have mercy on His world.
What value to the “finding” of his research? You might think that he would’ve at least put in a call to some of the Chareidi Mental Referral services to get some statistics from them!? To present findings that are not backed up by data provided by those professionals situated in places where the rubber hits the road is pathetic and a great disservice and injustice to the general public. I am shocked that YU would lend their sterling reputation to back such nonsense. A real chillul Hashem.
not to knock any of the wonderful organizations in ny, but what about the needs of those outside of ny? the world does not stop with ny, and there are thousands (millions?) of jews outside of ny.
#12 ,
I am an example of a YU professor who is not a rabbi.
#25,
You are incorrect, Dr. Schnall is a very frum Jew and a careful researcher. Please withdraw your comment.
#28 and #31 ,
You are incorrect, a long term follow up survey was done. I will quote the abstract my next comment. Dr. Schnall’s Presentation Title was “Psychological Disorder and Stigma: A 25-Year Follow-Up Study in the Orthodox Jewish Community”. Please withdraw your comments.
Abstract of Dr. Schnall’s presentation (part 1):
Minority groups typically underutilize the mental health services offered by the majority culture. In response to this disparity, researchers and clinicians in recent decades have focused on the needs of diverse groups. Unfortunately, Orthodox Jews have mostly been omitted from their investigations. This longstanding neglect may compromise the efficacy of mental health practitioners who treat Orthodox Jews, but lack the research studies that would guide them. The research of Feinberg and Feinberg (1985) represented a notable exception to the abovementioned trend. These investigators surveyed Orthodox mental health professionals (OMHPs) a generation ago, conducting a needs assessment in that community. A large majority of OMHPs reported that the mental health needs of the Orthodox Jewish community of the 1980’s were underserved. Most also felt that the needs of this community were more poorly addressed than those of the general population.
Abstract of Dr. Schnall’s presentation (continued):
The OMHPs also identified barriers that prevented members of the Orthodox Jewish community from accessing necessary mental health care; the existence of personal and family stigmas associated with psychiatric problems and mental health treatment were the most prominent. The current proposed session would present the results of a 25-year follow-up study to the Feinberg’s initial work. It will include newly collected and analyzed national and international data never before released. Emphasis will be placed on assessing any possible change in the perception of OMHPs regarding the mental health needs of the Orthodox Jewish community, and especially evaluating whether stigma and other barriers still remain, preventing members of this group from accessing needed care. Given that multicultural psychology is a relatively new field, the very long-term nature of the time frame makes this study extremely unique. Moreover, the fact that the initial research found that the Orthodox Jewish community is underserved, accentuates the importance of studying the issue again today.
I would urge all who are concerned about this presentation to remember that we are under a Torah obligation to judge our fellow Jews favorably, especially when she/he is frum. We should not “shoot from the hip” based on prejudices or suppositions. It took me less than five minutes of internet searching to find the actual abstract of Dr. Schnall’s presentation, the text of which addresses the concerns of some commenters here. Note that the survey was of *Orthodox* mental health professionals and the presentation is by an *Orthodox* Jew. We are all in this together.
I might add that while I know and respect my colleague Dr. Schnall I did not consult on this particular research. Questions and inquiries should be addressed to him.
How much more nonense can we take? Did anyone tell them that Orthodox Jews are prohibited from cooling off at the beach in 95 degree weather because there happens to be not one separate beach in america thanks to all our jewish politicians who disregard the plight of their brethren. This YU study fails to focus on the one thing that can clear up many problems.
How much more nonense can we take? Did anyone tell them that Orthodox Jews are prohibited from cooling off at the beach in 95 degree weather because there happens to be not one separate beach in america thanks to all our jewish politicians who disregard the plight of their brethren. This YU study fails to focus on the one thing that can clear up many problems.
This is what happens when the obscurantist chassidic world is forced to admit that the Rebbe doesn’t always have the answer to their troubles. They then must turn to apikorsishe educated professionals, and watch their protective wall come tumbling down. They should be given this psychological help as much as possible and have their eyes opened to a new world.
Is it Ok to ask why YU was doing this survey & what are they doing airing the dirty laundry in San Diego????
(My point is not whether or not the story is correct!)
I feel sorry for the frum (of all levels) who refuse to recognize the need of their loved ones. They don’t need to spring their kids to future spouses and create more unpleasant surprises. The rabbaim should encourage them to go to professional counseling/thearpy to help to have better coping skills. Torah alone does not work. Torah did not say how to help us with deafness and how to help our kids.
I am glad that we came from secular background that we have sense to help our kids and us to go to counseling. By going there has help us greatly that no rav can help us as they don’t understand our deafness.
I am frum and i am ashamed of their way of thinking.