Yakov
Yakov
Everyone deserves understanding and compassion
Yakov was a sad child, often feeling rejected by those around him. He began to experience mental health symptoms while he was a social work student.
At first, the symptoms would come about around crises and social events. When I was not allowed to attend the second year of social work training, my mental state got worse.
Yakov first saw a psychologist after he was married, then met with a psychiatrist after his wife became pregnant.
His close-knit, Ultra-Orthodox community’s exclusionary attitude toward Yakov was particularly challenging. It was difficult for him to find inclusion and support.
My immediate family is very supportive. On the other hand, there is no support at all from my extended family, and I have even been mistreated by people within my community.
The stigma Yakov experienced even impaired his ability to make a living.
Due to stigma, I am not allowed to have a job within the community, which limits my ability to earn a living and support my wife and four children.
There were situations where I was in courts and I made financial claims that the rabbinical judges rejected outright because of my mental state. They wouldn’t let me express myself and didn’t trust my position.
Not all of the instances of discriminatory treatment he experienced were due to his mental health challenges. However, some people specifically called him “crazy” or “disturbed.”
Yakov talked to his wife and with therapists about these experiences. He shared how isolated and lonely these dismissive attitudes made him feel. He was eventually diagnosed with a personality disorder, depression, and anxiety.
“I think the stigma towards people with mental health conditions is very difficult to experience. And beyond that, when a community doesn’t support certain individual members, it’s even harder.”
Even after being diagnosed, Yakov often felt that his therapists dismissed his feelings, and he stopped attending his therapy sessions.
During these periods, I felt that my therapists abandoned me. They did not listen to me. They did not give me the space to heal.
Yakov thinks there needs to be substantial changes in societal attitudes toward those with mental health disorders, especially in closed communities such as those to which he belongs.
I think the stigma towards people with mental health conditions is very difficult to experience. And beyond that, when a community doesn’t support certain individual members, it’s even harder.
Yakov has taken several steps to make sure people will see what he has experienced and will begin to treat others differently. He has not only shared his story publicly, but after studying for a bachelor’s degree and earning a master’s degree in criminology, he wrote his thesis about the media’s contribution to building a perception that those with a diagnosed mental health condition are dangerous.
Yakov currently works in research, and also volunteers with projects that help other people avoid the negative attitudes he himself experienced.
I actively promote the rights of people with disabilities. Each person deserves their community’s understanding, compassion, and assistance.
Yakov’s story is also available in Hebrew
