By Rabbi Laurie Rice
The Covid19 pandemic has both triggered and highlighted the need to change the conversation around mental health issues. According to a recent survey of adults by the Centers for Disease Control, more than one-third of those responding reported symptoms of anxiety or depression, over 10 percent reported having started or increased substance use, more than one quarter reported stress-related symptoms, and over 10 percent reported having serious thoughts of suicide in the past 30 days. All of these numbers are nearly double the rates expected before the start of the Covid19 Pandemic. These increases are tied to risks of suicide, substance abuse, loneliness, food insecurity, just to name a few. Locally the need for mental health services has risen and social workers at Jewish Family Service say that while they are working to respond to the need, there is still stigma around asking for help. Toni Jacobsen, Clinical Director for JFS, says, “It’s important to change the way we talk about mental health. People are not at fault for needing help. They need compassion and understanding about the trauma that happened to them.”
Recently, my friend and I were talking about trying to downsize our lives and how hard it is to get rid of tchotckies. Inanimate objects from which we derive so much joy.
June in the Galleries: Exhibits Feature the Work of The Tennessee Watercolor Society and Lolly Swicegood
The 2021 annual Jewish Food Fest brought the community together for an afternoon of Jewish-style soul food, good times and lots of ruach!
The crisis in Israel has resulted in lives lost, injuries and catastrophic damage to property. The constant threat has left Israelis traumatized, including children and those newly arrived in the country hoping to make it their home. The Jewish Federations of North America is responding to the growing need through outreach to local Federations for support. The Board of the Jewish Federation and Jewish Foundation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee approved an emergency distribution from its Discretionary Fund of $5,000 as its fair share of the $1.3million JFNA has determined to be the overall need. The funds will support JFNA, the Joint Distribution Committee and the Israeli Trauma Coalition. All of these agencies are focused on helping Israelis and others living in Israel cope by providing psychological services, and cash relief to those who have lost homes in this crisis.
In May 2021, the Nashville community was recognized by the Harold Grinspoon Foundation for successfully completing four years in the LIFE & LEGACY program. During the past four years, more than 370 donors have made after-life commitments totaling approximately $22 million after having a conversation with one of the LIFE & LEGACY volunteers.
