december is an important month for many people of religious faith. for jews who recently celebrated the festival of hanukkah, it is a time for reflection and commemoration, a symbolic period of darkness and light, where hope triumphs in the face of adversity.
interestingly, social science research indicates that religious belief and practice can have positive benefits on mental health. indeed, some research shows that religious faith may be especially important for mental health in times of heightened stress and vulnerability — for example, when experiencing a life-changing event such as a bereavement or physical illness.
however, much of the research literature on religion and mental health derives from studies of christians, and there has been insufficient research on mental health among religious minorities in canada.
one community which remains particularly under-researched are haredi jews — a diverse group of individuals from different theological and ethnic backgrounds, but with a shared devotion to orthodox judaism and strict adherence to traditional jewish teachings and law.
lara antebi and rob whitley, phd, say the study data will identify ways to promote mental health within the haredi jewish community whether through religious healing, prayer, or other practices. supplied
of note, montreal is home to one of the oldest and most lively haredi populations in the western hemisphere, and haredi jews continue to make an invaluable contribution to the cultural life and economy of montreal and other canadian cities. however their experience with official mental health services and their common beliefs and practices surrounding mental health are relatively unknown.
suffering in silence
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