“Bikur Cholim” For All, Especially the Mentally Ill

        An American woman, Moreen Greenberg, has been living in Tzfat, for well over 25 years. She is sometimes occupied with the mitzvah of Bikur Cholim (visiting the sick) in some form or another. Married, but with no children, she has “more” time than some other people to devote to her work, and chessed.  One of her passions is her love and respect for art and painting; and she is an artist. She has painted murals at the hospital and near the Mercaz Klita (absorption center) for Ethiopians in Tzfat. She teaches art individually and in small groups.      Many years ago she was informed about a position as an assistant to the art therapist at the Mental Health Hospital in Tzfat. She worked there for 10 months assisting the therapist as a ‘translator” for staff meetings and in group therapy. At the end of the 10 months, Moreen was left with a dilemma- to study to become an art therapist or to devote her time to painting. She chose to remain “just” an artist and paint.      She did however become involve with the founding and establishment of a branch of Enosh in Tzfat. {Enosh is a moadon (club/meeting place) for people with mental health issues/disorders. In the beginning it was just a club- a place to hang out three times a week in the afternoon where one who is different can feel “normal” amongst friends of a similar background. A typical afternoon was spent schmoozing, enjoying hot or cold drinks, table-tennis, art, or sometimes a talk or lecture. Nowadays, Enosh provides so much more – including hostels and protective housing.}       Moreen is still an active volunteer at Enosh using her art as a tool to help others. As a volunteer; she has over the years become friendly with many of the “regulars” who frequent the moadon. As their friend, she has noticed what others are too afraid to realize on what they observe. Many of these ex-patients (most are diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder and are on medications) are being over-medicated on a regular basis and not receiving enough proper psychological counseling to supplement their over-all comprehensive care.       Moreen has become a spokeswoman for the “cause”- a patient advocate to the rights of the mentally-ill to receive the best possible care without being turned into a zombie! Time and again, and through friends of friends, people call on Moreen for aid in fighting the System against over-medication. On the rise recently, are families that their adolescent children are being hospitalized for outrageous behavior or conduct disorder. But, all too often teenagers are first “tranquillized” without receiving a complete and comprehensive diagnostic testing, such as the very important blood work up crucial to any diagnosis. Parents are too terrified to question the psychiatrists and are even “bullied” by some in the professional field. Patients have rights and so do teenagers.      The side effects (muscle spasms, slurred speech, weight loss or weight gain to mention but a few) of many psychiatric medications can be debilitating to the person taking them as well as puzzling (or even repelling at times) to the people around them – all the more so when dealing with the bodies and hormones of young adolescents. And sudden withdrawal from these powerful drugs without any supervision can be very dangerous. A complete medical and blood work must be done to ascertain that there are no underlying medical conditions manifesting to mental and psychiatric symptoms. Some underlying conditions are as “simple” as dehydration and thyroid conditions which can manifest as an emotional breakdown, depression or mental illness.      Even if a person is in genuine need of psychiatric medication it would be best that it be in conjunction with counseling. According to research, people in need of psychiatric medications do better while also receiving counseling or other supportive therapy and are more likely not to be re-hospitalized. Such is the hope for any individual under psychiatric care. And so too is the supportive structure for the “patient” and family.