Coping, but not alone

Coping with a mental illness is not simple for either the person suffering from it themselves and their therapist, but also for their family. This was the topic of the study day held this week by The Hillel Yaffe Medical Center Mental Health Services, in association with Merkaz Yahel (a center which provides services to family members of those struggling with mental illness). There were some 200 participants, both professionals and families of those struggling with such illness.

During the day, there were lectures about the nature of mental illness and recognition of all the parties – the therapist, patient, and family – including a lecture which combined all three angles, as well as a panel with the participation of medical providers, rehabilitation workers, and family.

From right to left: Director of the Mental Health Division at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Tal Bergman; Director of Mental Health Services at Hillel Yaffe

All the study day attendees agreed that in recent years the conspiracy of silence around those suffering from mental illness is gradually being broken, helping both those coping with the illness and their families. However, everyone noted that activity on this issue must be expanded, and that the public must be made aware that those struggling with mental illness wish to be part of society despite their illness.

The deficit in financing in the field of mental health was also stressed, where the lack of funding is also expressed in the difficulty to retain good professionals within the public health system. All of these things were mentioned, alongside the wonderful, dedicated work being done by those in the Mental Health Services in the hospital and the community.

Director of Merkaz Yahel in Hadera, Ms. Ayelet Bassis, spoke about the families of those with mental illness who come to the center to receive help and breathing space to process the difficulty, to find room for hope and change, and primarily to obtain tools for the journey to recovery.

The important day ended with the play, “Crazy Aviv”, which describes a mother-son relationship when the son is suffering from a mental disorder, which sent the audience home with much food for thought.