משנים תודעה
עמותת 'זה בנפשי' פועלת להעלאת המודעות הציבורית ולשינוי התפיסה החברתית בנוגע לילדים ובני נוער המתמודדים עם אתגרים נפשיים. העמותה יוזמת כנסים, ימי עיון וקמפיינים להעלאת מודעות הציבור ולשינוי התפיסה בנוגע לילדים ולבני הנוער מתמודדי נפש, לוקחת חלק פעיל בדיונים ציבוריים ובוועדות בכנסת ומקיימת קשר רציף עם נציגי ציבור ושותפים מקצועיים כדי להשפיע מבפנים על עיצוב. מדיניות שתתקדם הכלה, תמיכה ונראות לכל ילד ומשפחה.
The experience of arriving at the ward is overwhelming, and the realization that this can happen to any home — no matter how involved the parents or how wonderful the children — is hard to bear. The mother calls for people to talk about the issue and share, in order to remove the "curtain of guilt and shame" and raise awareness.
Another mother shares that her daughter reached a point where she wouldn't leave the house or go to school. They tried everything to avoid hospitalization, but after a psychiatrist asked them whether they wanted to join an organization for bereaved parents, they understood that "there was no other choice." She emphasizes how difficult it is to ask for or accept help, and how hard it is to come to terms with becoming part of a family no one would choose to be.
Parents who feel their child needs help or that they themselves need support are encouraged to reach out to their treating physician at their health fund, to community clinics, or in urgent cases, to the hospital emergency room.
A mother of a 13-year-old girl shares that it is unbearable to think of her daughter in a mental health ward alongside children experiencing psychosis, violence, and schizophrenia. She fears her daughter will be influenced by the other children, and that she comes home with names of illnesses she had never heard of.
Another mother shares that in fourth grade, her daughter cut off all her own hair, and that was the moment she understood it needed to be addressed. By eighth grade, her daughter began expressing suicidal intentions, and emotional therapy was recommended but postponed. After a trigger that led to severe anxiety, an unwillingness to function, and defensive behavior, and by court order, she was hospitalized in a psychiatric hospital. The mother will never forget "the shock of having to leave her there."
Shock, Fear, and Hope
Y., a mother of a teenage girl facing mental health challenges, realized her daughter was in a different place when she watched her friends move on to middle school while her daughter was being taken to the psychiatric ward. She describes the journey as long and difficult, with a lack of support, but chooses to look forward. She makes an effort to find time for herself through Ze BeNafshi's activities, which give her "room to breathe." In her view, the system needs to advance and offer a variety of treatments, and that nature-based therapy is life-changing. Her message to families is to keep believing, to hold on to hope, and not to look too far ahead — to be in the "here and now."
Faith and Choosing the Present
More Stories
Family Influence
L., a mother of a young girl facing mental health challenges, shares that the moment she understood her daughter's condition was actually a relief — finally there was an explanation for her behavior, and she realized there was a way to help. They began therapy and medication, and their unity as a couple gave them strength. They decided to share with their close circle — family, friends, and the school staff — and received support. According to L., the transition to special education was the turning point that saved her daughter. She understands the stigma surrounding special education in the context of mental health, but that is where her daughter found herself. The experience changed her perception of mental health — she came to understand how widespread the issue is and yet how rarely it is spoken about, and that it can happen to anyone. Her message to other parents is: "Don't be afraid to share with those who can be your support. There is no reason to feel ashamed. You don't have to face this alone.
E., the brother of a young girl facing mental health challenges, felt relief when he learned the name of his sister's condition, because he understood that she "wasn't just being difficult for the sake of it." He sought the help of his psychologist to process things. He doesn't feel his perception of people with mental health challenges has changed, but it is important to him to tell his sister that he is by her side and loves her.
R., the grandmother of a young girl facing mental health challenges, describes the hardest moments as those when her granddaughter harmed herself. Despite the difficulty, she chose to be there for her unconditionally — she drove to visit her and brought her things she loves. She is optimistic about her improvement and hopes that awareness within government ministries will grow in order to provide better support for those facing mental health challenges in Israel. Her message to families: "Be patient. Even when it's hard, even when you don't understand — just be there.
D., the brother of a teenage girl facing mental health challenges, feels worry and concern about the future. He remembers the tension around the Shabbat table when his sister had an anxiety attack. Over time, things changed: after hospitalization the frequency of attacks decreased, and she began communicating with friends again.
N., the sister of a girl facing mental health challenges, was scared at first and worried about the future. She felt she needed to find the strength within herself to hold on, and learned to keep things in proportion — to give the situation space without letting it become her own story. She came to understand that mental health "isn't just about extreme situations" but is part of all of our lives. Her message is that strength lies in understanding how one can grow from the challenge, in expanding sensitivity and compassion to other areas of life, and in finding a sense of meaning.
The Power in Sharing and Unity
A mother of three shares that her journey began when her son started suffering from epileptic seizures at age five, and by age six his condition had deteriorated. He was diagnosed with a rare syndrome — acquired autism with brain damage, the result of epileptic waves that caused irreversible harm. In third grade he said: "Mom, I can't stop hearing prayers in my head," and then came the first psychosis. He disconnected, stared blankly, and talked to himself. He was hospitalized for evaluation, discharged with a recommendation for day hospitalization, but there is little medical response available for a mental health challenge rooted in an organic illness.
While the parents were focused on caring for their son, their younger daughter began to decline during her transition to elementary school. She hid her condition so as not to burden them, and only later did they discover she was in a bad state. She was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. One of the greatest challenges is the feeling of loneliness — the distance from extended family and friends. The mother finds it difficult to maintain social connections based solely on "the common denominator of parenting children with mental health challenges." Despite the hardships, she shares a moving insight: a mental health struggle is like a "dirty blanket" covering the child, but sometimes it shifts and then "you see the child underneath." Those moments of grace remind her that "there is something worth fighting for."
Epilepsy, Psychosis, and Isolation
The Power of Sharing and Unity
עמותת ״זה בנפשי״
טלפון: 051-230-1343
רחוב החצב 10, תל-מונד, 4061132,
ת.ד 436
ח.פ. 580708162
The Power in Sharing and Unity
״Ze Benafshi" Organization
+972-51-230-1343
10 HaChatzav Street, Tel Mond, 4061132, P.O. Box 436, Israel
Organization Registration No.
580708162
הכח בשיתוף ואחדות
The experience of arriving at the ward is overwhelming, and the realization that this can happen to any home — no matter how involved the parents or how wonderful the children — is hard to bear. The mother calls for people to talk about the issue and share, in order to remove the "curtain of guilt and shame" and raise awareness.
Another mother shares that her daughter reached a point where she wouldn't leave the house or go to school. They tried everything to avoid hospitalization, but after a psychiatrist asked them whether they wanted to join an organization for bereaved parents, they understood that "there was no other choice." She emphasizes how difficult it is to ask for or accept help, and how hard it is to come to terms with becoming part of a family no one would choose to be.
Parents who feel their child needs help or that they themselves need support are encouraged to reach out to their treating physician at their health fund, to community clinics, or in urgent cases, to the hospital emergency room.
A mother of a 13-year-old girl shares that it is unbearable to think of her daughter in a mental health ward alongside children experiencing psychosis, violence, and schizophrenia. She fears her daughter will be influenced by the other children, and that she comes home with names of illnesses she had never heard of.
Another mother shares that in fourth grade, her daughter cut off all her own hair, and that was the moment she understood it needed to be addressed. By eighth grade, her daughter began expressing suicidal intentions, and emotional therapy was recommended but postponed. After a trigger that led to severe anxiety, an unwillingness to function, and defensive behavior, and by court order, she was hospitalized in a psychiatric hospital. The mother will never forget "the shock of having to leave her there."
Shock, Fear, and Hope
Y., a mother of a teenage girl facing mental health challenges, realized her daughter was in a different place when she watched her friends move on to middle school while her daughter was being taken to the psychiatric ward. She describes the journey as long and difficult, with a lack of support, but chooses to look forward. She makes an effort to find time for herself through Ze BeNafshi's activities, which give her "room to breathe." In her view, the system needs to advance and offer a variety of treatments, and that nature-based therapy is life-changing. Her message to families is to keep believing, to hold on to hope, and not to look too far ahead — to be in the "here and now."
Faith and Choosing the Present
E., the brother of a young girl facing mental health challenges, felt relief when he learned the name of his sister's condition, because he understood that she "wasn't just being difficult for the sake of it." He sought the help of his psychologist to process things. He doesn't feel his perception of people with mental health challenges has changed, but it is important to him to tell his sister that he is by her side and loves her.
R., the grandmother of a young girl facing mental health challenges, describes the hardest moments as those when her granddaughter harmed herself. Despite the difficulty, she chose to be there for her unconditionally — she drove to visit her and brought her things she loves. She is optimistic about her improvement and hopes that awareness within government ministries will grow in order to provide better support for those facing mental health challenges in Israel. Her message to families: "Be patient. Even when it's hard, even when you don't understand — just be there.
D., the brother of a teenage girl facing mental health challenges, feels worry and concern about the future. He remembers the tension around the Shabbat table when his sister had an anxiety attack. Over time, things changed: after hospitalization the frequency of attacks decreased, and she began communicating with friends again.
N., the sister of a girl facing mental health challenges, was scared at first and worried about the future. She felt she needed to find the strength within herself to hold on, and learned to keep things in proportion — to give the situation space without letting it become her own story. She came to understand that mental health "isn't just about extreme situations" but is part of all of our lives. Her message is that strength lies in understanding how one can grow from the challenge, in expanding sensitivity and compassion to other areas of life, and in finding a sense of meaning.
Family Influence
L., a mother of a young girl facing mental health challenges, shares that the moment she understood her daughter's condition was actually a relief — finally there was an explanation for her behavior, and she realized there was a way to help. They began therapy and medication, and their unity as a couple gave them strength. They decided to share with their close circle — family, friends, and the school staff — and received support. According to L., the transition to special education was the turning point that saved her daughter. She understands the stigma surrounding special education in the context of mental health, but that is where her daughter found herself. The experience changed her perception of mental health — she came to understand how widespread the issue is and yet how rarely it is spoken about, and that it can happen to anyone. Her message to other parents is: "Don't be afraid to share with those who can be your support. There is no reason to feel ashamed. You don't have to face this alone.
More Stories
Epilepsy, Psychosis, and Isolation
A mother of three shares that her journey began when her son started suffering from epileptic seizures at age five, and by age six his condition had deteriorated. He was diagnosed with a rare syndrome — acquired autism with brain damage, the result of epileptic waves that caused irreversible harm. In third grade he said: "Mom, I can't stop hearing prayers in my head," and then came the first psychosis. He disconnected, stared blankly, and talked to himself. He was hospitalized for evaluation, discharged with a recommendation for day hospitalization, but there is little medical response available for a mental health challenge rooted in an organic illness.
While the parents were focused on caring for their son, their younger daughter began to decline during her transition to elementary school. She hid her condition so as not to burden them, and only later did they discover she was in a bad state. She was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. One of the greatest challenges is the feeling of loneliness — the distance from extended family and friends. The mother finds it difficult to maintain social connections based solely on "the common denominator of parenting children with mental health challenges." Despite the hardships, she shares a moving insight: a mental health struggle is like a "dirty blanket" covering the child, but sometimes it shifts and then "you see the child underneath." Those moments of grace remind her that "there is something worth fighting for."
The Power in Sharing and Unity
״Ze Benafshi" Organization
+972-51-230-1343
10 HaChatzav Street, Tel Mond, 4061132, P.O. Box 436, Israel
Organization Registration No.
580708162
ל', אמא למתמודדת צעירה, מספרת שרגע ההבנה של מצב בתה היה הקלה – סוף סוף היה הסבר להתנהגותה, והיא הבינה שיש דרך לעזור. הם החלו בטיפולים ותרופות, והאחדות שלהם כזוג נתנה להם כוח. הם החליטו לשתף את הסביבה הקרובה (משפחה, חברים וצוות בית הספר) וקיבלו תמיכה. לדברי ל', המעבר לחינוך מיוחד היה נקודת המפנה שהצילה את בתה. היא מבינה שיש סטיגמות סביב חינוך מיוחד בהקשר הנפשי, אך שם בתה מצאה את עצמה. החוויה שינתה את תפיסתה לגבי בריאות הנפש – היא הבינה עד כמה התופעה רחבה ועדיין לא מדוברת, והיא יכולה להגיע לכל אחד. מסרה להורים אחרים הוא: "אל תפחדו לשתף את מי שיכול להיות לכם משענת, אין שום סיבה להתבייש. אתם לא צריכים להיות לבד בהתמודדות הזו".
אפילפסיה, פסיכוזה ובדידות
חווית ההגעה למחלקה מטלטלת, וההבנה שזה יכול להגיע לכל בית, לא משנה עד כמה ההורים מעורבים או הילדים מדהימים, היא קשה. האם קוראת לדבר על הנושא ולשתף, כדי להסיר את "מסך האשמה והבושה" ולהעלות את המודעות.
אמא אחרת מספרת שבתה הגיעה למצב שלא יצאה מהבית ולא הלכה לבית הספר. הם ניסו הכול כדי למנוע אשפוז, אך לאחר שפסיכיאטר שאל אותם אם הם רוצים להצטרף לעמותה להורים שכולים, הבינו ש'אין ברירה'. היא מדגישה שקשה לבקש או לקבל עזרה, וקשה להבין שהפכו לחלק מהמשפחה הזו שלא נבחרה.
"הורים שמרגישים שילדם צריך עזרה או שהם זקוקים לתמיכה, מופנים לרופא המטפל בקופת החולים, למרפאות בקהילה, או במקרים דחופים, לחדר המיון בבית החולים." (זוהי פסקה המציעה פתרון ותמיכה מעשית, ולכן מתאימה לנושא ה"שיקום").
"אמא לילדה בת 13 מספרת שקשה מנשוא לחשוב על בתה כשהיא נמצאת במחלקה לבריאות הנפש לצד ילדים פסיכוטיים, אלימים וסכיזופרנים. היא חוששת שהבת שלה תושפע מילדים אחרים וחוזרת עם שמות של מחלות שלא הכירה."
"אם אחרת מספרת שבכיתה ד' בתה גזרה לעצמה את כל השיער, וזו הייתה הנקודה שהבינה שצריך להתייחס לזה. כשהגיעה לכיתה ח' החלה לדבר על כוונות אובדניות, והוא המליץ על טיפול רגשי שנדחה. לאחר טריגר שגרר חרדות קשות, חוסר רצון לתפקד והתנהגות מתגוננת, ובהחלטת בית משפט, היא אושפזה בבית חולים פסיכיאטרי. האם לא תשכח את 'ההלם שלה כשנאלצנו להשאיר אותה שם'."
הלם פחד ותקווה
י', אמא לנערה מתמודדת, הבינה שבתה במקום אחר כשראתה את חבריה עולים לחטיבת הביניים והיא נסעה למחלקה הפסיכיאטרית. היא מתארת את ההתמודדות כארוכה וקשה, וחוסר עזרה, אך בוחרת להסתכל קדימה. היא משתדלת למצוא זמן לעצמה בפעילויות של 'זה בנפשי', שנותן לה "מרחב נשימה". לדעתה, המערכת צריכה להתקדם ולהציע מגוון טיפולים, וטיפול בטבע משנה חיים. מסרה למשפחות הוא להמשיך להאמין, להחזיק תקווה, ולא להסתכל יותר מדי קדימה – להיות ב"כאן ועכשיו".
אמונה ובחירה בהווה
ע', אח של מתמודדת צעירה, חש הקלה כשגילה את שם הבעיה של אחותו, כי הבין שהיא "לא סתם עושה דווקא". הוא נעזר בפסיכולוגית שלו כדי לעבד את הדברים. הוא לא חש שינוי בתפיסתו כלפי מתמודדי נפש, אך חשוב לו לומר לאחותו שהוא לצידה ואוהב אותה.
ר', סבתא למתמודדת צעירה, מתארת את הרגעים הקשים ביותר כשהנכדה פגעה בעצמה. למרות הקושי, היא בחרה להיות שם עבורה ללא תנאי, נסעה לבקר אותה והביאה לה דברים שהיא אוהבת. היא אופטימית לגבי השיפור ומקווה שהמודעות של משרדי הממשלה תגדל כדי לתת מענה למתמודדים בישראל. מסרה למשפחות: "תהיו סבלניים. גם כשקשה, גם כשלא מבינים – פשוט תהיו שם".
ד', אח של נערה מתמודדת, חש דאגה וחשש לגבי העתיד. הוא זוכר מתח סביב שולחן השבת כשאחותו חוותה התקף חרדה. עם הזמן, דברים השתנו: אחרי האשפוז כמות ההתקפים ירדה, והיא חזרה לתקשר עם חברות.
נ', אחות של מתמודדת, פחדה בהתחלה ודאגה מהעתיד. היא הרגישה שהיא צריכה למצוא בתוכה כוחות להחזיק מעמד ולמדה לשמור על פרופורציות – לתת למצב מקום, אך לא להפוך אותו לסיפור שלה. היא הבינה שבריאות הנפש "לא רק עניין של מצבים קיצוניים" אלא חלק מהחיים של כולנו. מסרה הוא שהכוח טמון בהבנה כיצד אפשר לצמוח מתוך האתגר, להרחיב את הרגישות וההכלה לתחומי חיים אחרים ולחוות תחושת משמעות.
קולות האחים והסבתא
סיפורים נוספים
אמא לשלושה מספרת שמסעה החל כשהבן שלה התחיל לסבול מהתקפים אפילפטיים בגיל חמש, ובגיל שש המצב התדרדר. הוא אובחן עם תסמונת נדירה, אוטיזם נרכש עם פגיעה מוחית, שהם תוצאה של גלים אפילפטיים שגרמו נזק בלתי הפיך. בכיתה ג' הוא אמר: "אמא, אני לא מפסיק לשמוע תפילות בראש שלי", ואז הגיעה הפסיכוזה הראשונה. הוא התנתק, בהה ודיבר לעצמו. הוא אושפז לבירור, שוחרר עם המלצה לאשפוז יום, אך אין מענה רפואי רב לאתגר נפשי שמקורו במחלה אורגנית.
בזמן שההורים עסוקים בטיפול בבן, הבת הקטנה החלה להתדרדר במעבר ליסודי. היא הסתירה את מצבה כדי לא להכביד עליהם, ובשלב מאוחר גילו שהיא במצב לא טוב, ואובחנה עם הפרעת אישיות גבולית. אחד האתגרים הגדולים ביותר הוא תחושת הבדידות, הריחוק מהמשפחה המורחבת ומהחברים. האם חשה קושי להיות בקשרים חברתיים המבוססים רק על "המכנה המשותף של הורות לילדים מתמודדי נפש". למרות הקשיים, היא משתפת תובנה מרגשת: התמודדות נפש היא כמו "שמיכה מלוכלכת" שמכסה את הילד, אך לפעמים היא מוסטת ואז "את רואה את הילד מתחת". רגעי החסד האלה מזכירים לה "שיש על מה להיאבק".
הכוח בשיתוף ואחדות
עמותת ״זה בנפשי״
טלפון: 051-230-1343
רחוב החצב 10, תל-מונד, 4061132,
ת.ד 436
ח.פ. 580708162
עמותת ״זה בנפשי״
טלפון: 051-230-1343
רחוב החצב 10, תל-מונד, 4061132,
ת.ד 436
ח.פ. 580708162