Shay
Shay
Let’s revolutionize how society perceives mental health
For most of his life, Shay showed no symptoms of a mental health condition. He started a family and served as a senior manager in large companies in the food industry. But at the age of 40, he was diagnosed with cancer, which triggered episodes of bipolar disorder.
I kept secrets for 30 years. I had to experience turbulence in the form of something like cancer to realize I had to take care of myself.
After several years of struggling, Shay chose to be hospitalized for over a year. Since then, he has been telling his story openly, in order to end the stigma of mental health in Israel.
Shay is married with four children—three of whom are serving in combat roles in the army. He grew up in an Ultra-Orthodox household and studied with a rabbi who sexually abused him when he was a child. He repressed the experience for decades, until his cancer diagnosis raised the trauma to his consciousness, and he had to deal with its consequences.
During my hospitalization, I was exposed to the gap between mainstream Israeli society and individuals with mental health issues. I realized that families and friends wanted to provide support, but did not know how to do so.
To bridge this gap, Shay has chosen to work vigorously to break stigmas and create social solidarity with those living with mental health condition in Israel.
“I kept secrets for 30 years. I had to experience turbulence in the form of something like cancer to realize I had to take care of myself.”
Most people with mental health conditions are like me: good, active, and productive people. Therefore, it is important to me that others ‘come out’ and that Israeli society treats them as equals.
Today, Shay is a business entrepreneur and social activist in the field of mental health. He wrote a book and developed a life approach called the “fulfillment path.” Today, the fulfillment path model helps many people as part of a training process to achieve their goals.
My lectures are requested by the Israeli Ministry of Education, the police, colleges, and more. I go everywhere because it’s important to me that the message gets through.
My goal is to revolutionize society’s stigmatizing perception of those with mental health challenges.
When people call to consult Shay, he always asks about environmental and domestic support, since he believes that treatment has a lower chance of success without the support from home, family, spouses, parents, siblings, and the community. Therefore, Shay spends many hours on this mission with families, providing advice and resources for professional assistance.
Recently, Shay was appointed as a volunteer chairperson of Lanefesh, an organization that provides a network of support and guidance for those experiencing mental health challenges. Lanefesh also emphasizes social education around inclusion and promoting the strengths of individuals who struggle with mental health disorders.
Being named to this position is a continuation of Shay’s vision for his life: to ensure people living with a mental health condition in Israel live fulfilling and meaningful lives.
Shay’s story is also available in Hebrew
