Antisemitism and discrimination take a toll on both our mental and physical health. Our mental and physical health are deeply intertwined, so when one is under stress the other is impacted.
Jewish Mental health value: Kol Yisrael arevim zeh la zeh - All Jews are responsible for one another
We are interconnected and must be invested in the mental wellness and overall well-being of others. We must be willing and prepared to help one another because we all benefit.
As we witness this rise in antisemitism and discrimination, it is our responsibility to support one another both in the Jewish community and in the larger community, as well as to find ways to support ourselves.
Impact on mental and physical health:
Antisemitism and discrimination take a toll on both our mental and physical health. Our mental and physical health are deeply intertwined, so when one is under stress the other is impacted.
Antisemitism and discrimination can impact your mental health by:
Decreasing someone’s sense of safety and security, which can lead to increased fear, anxiety, depression, chronic stress, and cause or retrigger trauma.
Antisemitism and discrimination can impact your physical health by:
Causing high blood pressure, decreased immunity, and increased heart rate. All of these impact how productive and present we are during the day and can impact our sleep too.
How to support yourself
Acknowledge that however you had been feeling in response to the rise in antisemitism is okay. There is no right or wrong way to feel. If you have been struggling or having a more challenging time, here are some things you can do…
Reflect
Reflect on what you have been feeling and put a name to your emotions. Naming your feelings or emotions can give you an insight into what you have been feeling and why. What emotions have been coming up for you? Where are you when you are experiencing these emotions (at home, at school, at work, in extracurriculars, etc.)? What emotion or feeling has been the loudest?
Identify Your Support System
Now that you have spent some time thinking about what emotions have been coming up and where, think about your support system. Who can you turn to talk and share how you have been feeling? Create a “Web of Support.” Think about – friends, family, teachers, coaches, youth directors, clergy/rabbis, etc.
Next Steps
Now spend some time thinking about what you can do next.
Learn more
Seek out more information and learn more about antisemitism. Identify viable sources such as the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the American Jewish Committee (AJC).
Activism
Think about ways you can get involved locally or on a national level.
More support
If you continue to struggle, please seek professional mental health support. It is okay to need additional support!
If you or someone you know is in crisis, there is always help available.
- 988 – Suicide and Crisis Lifeline – Call or text 988 for 24/7, free and confidential support. 988 is the new three-digit dialing code that will route callers to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
- Crisis Text line – Text HOME to 741 741 – Free 24/7 support at your fingertips. A live, trained Crisis Counselor receives the text and responds, all from our secure online platform.
Remember, the Blue Dove Foundation is here to support you with our Jewish mental health resources at thebluedovefoundation.org/resources.
For more content about mental health and anti-semitism, check out “How Discrimination Affects Your Mental And Physical Health” from Huffpost, including contributions from our own, Carly Coons, LSW.