“O God, pray heal her!”
This brief but desperate cry came from the mouth of Moses in the Torah portion Beha’alotcha. His sister, Miriam, was ill. This powerful plea cuts down to the core of what it means to love someone who is ill — a feeling of isolated helplessness. When we see a loved one suffering, we want it to end as soon as possible. We want them to heal immediately and completely — body, mind, and soul. Feeling there is no way to take away the pain of a child, parent, sibling, spouse, or any other loved one can be agonizing.
This resource does not aim to teach you how to “fix” a loved one, as much as we wish we could. Rather, we hope to create a place where someone can turn when they are caught up in the storm of caring for and loving someone who is struggling with their mental health. If you are reading this, you probably already know that what is referred to as “mental illness” is a complex combination of physical, cognitive, emotional, genetic, and environmental factors even experts struggle to explain. You also probably know that many mental health conditions can be severe, even debilitating, and many are chronic and never fully “cured.”
No matter where you are in the journey of supporting a child with a mental illness, you probably already have experienced the delicate balance of caretaking and boundary setting. Our goal in compiling this resource is to be with you the whole way.
Areas of Healing
The role of a caregiver can often be isolating. We hope this guide provides a sense of community, information to inform your everyday interactions, and tools to fuel your spirit and keep you moving forward. This guide is divided into three parts:
Find Additional Jewish Mental Health Support Networks and Resources
Accordion Content
- Jewish Mental Health Support – The Blue Dove Foundation
- Mental Health First Aid
- P.E.T. Workshops (Online/In-Person) – Gordon Training International
- V’AHAVTA: COMMUNITY NARCAN TRAININGS – The Blue Dove Foundation
- DBT for Parents – Child Mind Institute
- Maudsley Parents – Eating Disorder Hope
- Physical Restraint and Seclusion Procedures in School Settings | Council for Children with Behavioral Disorders
- SPACE | SPACE Treatment
Accordion Content
- BDF Resource Library
- Mi Sheberach for caregivers
- The Blue Dove Mental Health Glossary
- HaDerech Part One | What is a Mental Health Crisis and What Does a Crisis Look Like? – The Blue Dove Foundation
- HaDerech Part Two | Immediate Response to a Crisis – The Blue Dove Foundation
- HaDerech Part Three | Treatment Options – The Blue Dove Foundation
- HaDerech Part Four | Levels of Care – The Blue Dove Foundation
- Every Life Counts – Resources for Children and Teens – The Blue Dove Foundation
- How Parents and Caregivers Can Support Their Kids’ Mental Wellness – The Blue Dove Foundation
- Making Peace Spaces – The Blue Dove Foundation
- A Balanced Candle Won’t Burn Out – The Blue Dove Foundation
- How Peer Pressure Can Affect ADHD Treatment in Tweens – The Blue Dove Foundation
- Jewish Mantras: How to Change Your Brain – The Blue Dove Foundation
- The Risks of Tween and Teen Alcohol and Drug Abuse – The Blue Dove Foundation
- Depression Among Tweens – The Blue Dove Foundation
- How to Spot Anxiety Disorders in Kids, Tweens and Teens – The Blue Dove Foundation
- Mental Health College Toolkit – The Blue Dove Foundation
- Ladder of Emotional Regulation – The Blue Dove Foundation
- What Are the Most Common Mental Illnesses in Children? – The Blue Dove Foundation
- Hungry to be Heard – A Documentary about Anorexia, Bulimia, and other Eating Disorders in the Orthodox Community
Jewish Prayers Related to Mental Health
We believe Jewish prayers and rituals can help to strengthen our mental well-being, resilience and recovery in the same way middot, or Jewish values, can promote them. Faith is an important part of healing for many, and Jewish thinkers and leaders historically have brought the two together.
When someone is ill or recovering from illness or an accident, we often recite a mi sheberach to wish them a refuah sheleimah, or a “full recovery.” We have expanded this prayer for those who are struggling with mental health in different variations of mi sheberachs.
About the Blue Dove Foundation
The Blue Dove Foundation aims to transform how the Jewish community understands and responds to mental illness and addictions. Working to empower individuals, communities, and professional organizations around the world, we provide educational resources that help people navigate the ever-growing challenges around mental health with practical applications and spiritual significance.
Our Work:
- Educate the community about mental health through a Jewish lens.
- Produce powerful and engaging educational resources about the connections between mental wellness and Judaism.
- Spearhead and design programs that can be replicated easily in communities across the country: mental health Shabbat dinners, various training programs, interactive events with speakers, and more.
Disclaimer: Nothing in this resource is to be construed as medical advice or treatment. For all medical questions, please consult a medical professional or treatment facility.