Page 80 - issue
P. 80
AN INTERVIEW WITH partners in the treatment.
MICHAEL BUNZEL, M.D.
How much mental illness in the
ADDRESSING SUICIDE Orthodox community goes untreated?
IN THE ORTHODOX COMMUNITY MB: We can never know the precise
answer. If mental health issues are stigma-
by Amanda Kuperman way into someone’s soul. Indeed, there is tized, the people who are suffering live in
a universal trend today toward more cul- a world of secrecy, and their problems are
In this interview with Dr. Michael turally sensitive medicine. Psychiatric serv- only exacerbated. The greater the stigma,
Bunzel, Chairman of the Department ices should be rendered by practitioners the fewer people get treated. We do know
of Psychiatry at Mayanei HaYeshua who are aware of the idiosyncrasies of the that, according to our data, 65 percent of
Hospital in Bnei Brak, Dr. Bunzel patient’s subculture if they want a higher the adults and 70 percent of the children
speaks about mental health in the chance of succeeding. It can be very hard who come in for mental health help at
frum community. He was instrumental to diagnose someone unless you clearly Mayanei HaYeshua would not have
in the founding of the hospital’s understand his cultural framework and sought treatment elsewhere, because
recently opened, state-of-the-art men- understand what normalcy is in that cul- other clinics are less sensitive to their
tal health hospital. Housed in a seven- ture. For example, a secular doctor might unique Torah outlook.
floor, ultra-modern building, with every misinterpret ritual behaviour, religious
possible amenity and comfort, the Mental observance, and even reliance on a high- Is there less stigma than before?
Health Center is designed to reduce the er power as being abnormal psychiatric MB: There were times when anyone in
potentially unpleasant aspects of clients symptoms. This can lead to misdiagnosis Bnei Brak with a mental health issue
seeking mental health treatment. Mayanei and mistreatment. would travel as far away as possible for
HaYeshua Hospital is legendary for treatment, so as not to be seen. Opening
upholding the principles of Jewish law and Traditionally, there has been resistance in a clinic right in the middle of Bnei Brak at
the sanctity of human life in all its depart- Orthodox circles to mental health issues. the community’s general hospital was to
ments, and a halachic committee of Why? go up straight in the face of the stigma.
gedolei Yisrael oversees all medical ethics MB: The Orthodox community used to be People predicted that no one would show
issues. With this groundbreaking achieve- suspicious of professional care of mental up when we opened our clinic in the
ment, the hospital, doctors, and rabbanim health problems. Halachic authorities heart of Bnei Brak. But show up they did,
hope to apply these invaluable principles such as Rav Moshe Feinstein were wary of and quite rapidly our clinic was bursting
to the crucial field of mental illness. psychological treatment because it was at the seams.
largely based on philosophies antithetical
What is so special about the Mayanei to a Torah outlook. The split between the Mayanei HaYeshua has the support of
HaYeshua Mental Health Center? world of psychiatry and the world of the the top rabbinical leaders, and this cer-
Dr. Michael Bunzel: Our Mental Health religious led to mutual distrust. Happily, tainly helps reduce the stigma. Rabbis
Center will become the largest psychiatric the last 30 years have seen new psycho- now work openly and constructively with
center of its kind in the Middle East. We logical treatments that are no longer psychiatrists. The Orthodox public is
believe that halacha and Torah hashkafa regarded as threatening, and likewise, psy- beginning to recognise that shidduchim
(religious outlook) can actually assist in chologists and psychiatrists are more are not doomed if a great-grandson is on
psychiatric issues. Social and communal understanding that religion is not only not an antidepressant. They realise that it is
interventions that are typical of Orthodox a barrier to psychological rehabilitation possible to use psychotherapy in a way
communities, such as social support, fam- but is often even a facilitator of it. that is guided by Torah values.
ily support, and rehabilitation programs Resistance to mental health treatment
are already an integral part of the reli- has steadily declined due in part to the What types of mental illnesses do you
gious lifestyle. The staff, almost exclusive- increasing number of religiously obser- come across in the religious community?
ly Torah observant, have exceptional level vant mental health practitioners as well as MB: While the Torah lifestyle protects
of expertise in their disciplines. the bi-directional consultation that often against many ailments that are more
takes place between rabbanim and men- common in nonreligious societies, such
How important is it for mental health tal health professionals. There has been as personality disorders, and while
practitioners to appreciate the culture of something of a revolution. Instead of rab- research has proven that a religiously rich
the patients they treat? bis and their communities resisting the life is protective against some psychiatric
MB: Cultural differences should be treatment of mental health, they are now problems, such as depression and anxiety,
respected and understood if we want a Torah-observant Jews are unfortunately
not immune to psychiatric illnesses. Every
psychiatric illness that you find in Western
society can be found in the Orthodox
community as well.
76 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
MICHAEL BUNZEL, M.D.
How much mental illness in the
ADDRESSING SUICIDE Orthodox community goes untreated?
IN THE ORTHODOX COMMUNITY MB: We can never know the precise
answer. If mental health issues are stigma-
by Amanda Kuperman way into someone’s soul. Indeed, there is tized, the people who are suffering live in
a universal trend today toward more cul- a world of secrecy, and their problems are
In this interview with Dr. Michael turally sensitive medicine. Psychiatric serv- only exacerbated. The greater the stigma,
Bunzel, Chairman of the Department ices should be rendered by practitioners the fewer people get treated. We do know
of Psychiatry at Mayanei HaYeshua who are aware of the idiosyncrasies of the that, according to our data, 65 percent of
Hospital in Bnei Brak, Dr. Bunzel patient’s subculture if they want a higher the adults and 70 percent of the children
speaks about mental health in the chance of succeeding. It can be very hard who come in for mental health help at
frum community. He was instrumental to diagnose someone unless you clearly Mayanei HaYeshua would not have
in the founding of the hospital’s understand his cultural framework and sought treatment elsewhere, because
recently opened, state-of-the-art men- understand what normalcy is in that cul- other clinics are less sensitive to their
tal health hospital. Housed in a seven- ture. For example, a secular doctor might unique Torah outlook.
floor, ultra-modern building, with every misinterpret ritual behaviour, religious
possible amenity and comfort, the Mental observance, and even reliance on a high- Is there less stigma than before?
Health Center is designed to reduce the er power as being abnormal psychiatric MB: There were times when anyone in
potentially unpleasant aspects of clients symptoms. This can lead to misdiagnosis Bnei Brak with a mental health issue
seeking mental health treatment. Mayanei and mistreatment. would travel as far away as possible for
HaYeshua Hospital is legendary for treatment, so as not to be seen. Opening
upholding the principles of Jewish law and Traditionally, there has been resistance in a clinic right in the middle of Bnei Brak at
the sanctity of human life in all its depart- Orthodox circles to mental health issues. the community’s general hospital was to
ments, and a halachic committee of Why? go up straight in the face of the stigma.
gedolei Yisrael oversees all medical ethics MB: The Orthodox community used to be People predicted that no one would show
issues. With this groundbreaking achieve- suspicious of professional care of mental up when we opened our clinic in the
ment, the hospital, doctors, and rabbanim health problems. Halachic authorities heart of Bnei Brak. But show up they did,
hope to apply these invaluable principles such as Rav Moshe Feinstein were wary of and quite rapidly our clinic was bursting
to the crucial field of mental illness. psychological treatment because it was at the seams.
largely based on philosophies antithetical
What is so special about the Mayanei to a Torah outlook. The split between the Mayanei HaYeshua has the support of
HaYeshua Mental Health Center? world of psychiatry and the world of the the top rabbinical leaders, and this cer-
Dr. Michael Bunzel: Our Mental Health religious led to mutual distrust. Happily, tainly helps reduce the stigma. Rabbis
Center will become the largest psychiatric the last 30 years have seen new psycho- now work openly and constructively with
center of its kind in the Middle East. We logical treatments that are no longer psychiatrists. The Orthodox public is
believe that halacha and Torah hashkafa regarded as threatening, and likewise, psy- beginning to recognise that shidduchim
(religious outlook) can actually assist in chologists and psychiatrists are more are not doomed if a great-grandson is on
psychiatric issues. Social and communal understanding that religion is not only not an antidepressant. They realise that it is
interventions that are typical of Orthodox a barrier to psychological rehabilitation possible to use psychotherapy in a way
communities, such as social support, fam- but is often even a facilitator of it. that is guided by Torah values.
ily support, and rehabilitation programs Resistance to mental health treatment
are already an integral part of the reli- has steadily declined due in part to the What types of mental illnesses do you
gious lifestyle. The staff, almost exclusive- increasing number of religiously obser- come across in the religious community?
ly Torah observant, have exceptional level vant mental health practitioners as well as MB: While the Torah lifestyle protects
of expertise in their disciplines. the bi-directional consultation that often against many ailments that are more
takes place between rabbanim and men- common in nonreligious societies, such
How important is it for mental health tal health professionals. There has been as personality disorders, and while
practitioners to appreciate the culture of something of a revolution. Instead of rab- research has proven that a religiously rich
the patients they treat? bis and their communities resisting the life is protective against some psychiatric
MB: Cultural differences should be treatment of mental health, they are now problems, such as depression and anxiety,
respected and understood if we want a Torah-observant Jews are unfortunately
not immune to psychiatric illnesses. Every
psychiatric illness that you find in Western
society can be found in the Orthodox
community as well.
76 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
