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.
May the One who blessed our ancestors and named us Israel bless and heal those among us who struggle with mental well-being. May they acknowledge their own strength and resilience, treat themselves with forgiveness and patience, and find help, compassion, and resources when they need them. And, may the Holy One grant those of us who aren’t experiencing mental health issues the strength, resilience and capacity to listen without judgment and with intention, and the ability to notice when others are struggling. May we create communities that accept, uplift, and support those among us who are struggling. Now, speedily, and in a time soon to come. Amen.
מִי שֶׁבֵּרַךְ אֲבוֹתֵינוּ אֲשֶׁר קָרָא לָנוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר שָׂרִיתָ עִם אֱלֹהִים, הוּא יְבָרֵךְ וִירַפֵּא אֶת אֵלּוּ מִבֵּינֵינוּ הַנֶּאֱבָקִים בָּרְוָחָה הַנַּפְשִׁית. יְהִי רָצוֹן שֶׁיַּכִּירוּ בְּכוֹחָם וּבְחָסְנָם, וְיִתְיַחֲסוּ לְעַצְמָם בִּסְלִיחָה וּבְסַבְלָנוּת, וְיִמְצְאוּ עֶזְרָה, חֶמְלָה וּמַשְׁאַבִּים בְּעֵת צָרָתָם,. הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא יַעֲנִיק לָאֵלּוּ מֵאִתָּנוּ שֶׁאֵינָם חוֹוִים קְשָיִּם נַפְשִׁיּם אֶת הַכֹּחַ, הַחֹסֶן וְהַיְּכֹלֶת לְהַקְשִׁיב לְלֹא שִׁפּוּט וּמִתּוֹךְ כַּוָּנָה, וְאֶת הַיְּכֹלֶת לְהַבְחִין כַּאֲשֶׁר אֲחֵרִים נֶאֱבָקִים. יְהִי רְצוֹנְךָ שֶׁנִּצּוֹר קְהִלּוֹת שֶׁמְּקַבְּלוֹת, מֵרוֹמְמוֹת וְתוֹמְכוֹת בְּאֵלֶּה שֶׁבֵּינֵינוּ הַנֶּאֱבָקִים. הַשְׁתָּא בַּעֲגָלָא וּבִזְמַן קָרִיב. וְנֹאמַר אָמֵן.