Month: June 2020

Barak Hagler
Barak Hagler is an Elizabeth, New Jersey native who recently graduated Yeshiva University with a B.A. in Economics. Professionally, he is an aspiring actuary but loves creative activities like reading as writing (as incongruous as that may sound). Barak is also a huge sports fan (Yankees and Nets in particular) and in a parallel universe would be a sports broadcaster. He writes on mental health because he wants to help people realize that grappling with mental health is as normal and human as breathing.
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The following poem was selected as one of the winners of this year’s Refuat Hanefesh Creative Expression Contest. Age group: College and Up. Message from the Author: While the inspiration for this piece was someone who deals with obsessive thoughts and compulsions, the message is universal. We all want to get better, and we all want Read More …

Gabe Gross
Gabe Gross
Hi! My Name is Gabe Gross. I am originally from Cleveland, Ohio but moved to Houston, Texas my senior year of high school. I recently finished two years of learning at Yeshivat Orayta and am excited to continue my education at Yeshiva University next year.
Gabe Gross
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The following Chabura was selected as one of the winners of this year’s Refuat Hanefesh Creative Expression Contest. Age group: College and Up. Introduction from the Chabura Leader: Mental health has always been a big part of who I am (for better and for worse). As a result, I wanted to insert that part of me Read More …

Anonymous Female
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The following poem was selected as one of the winners of this year’s Refuat Hanefesh Creative Expression Contest. Age group: high school. Message from the author: Trapped is a poem discussing the feelings of depression one faces and how one feels trapped within themselves Barely Breathing: suffocationA silent stone in jailThey won’t put me on probationI Read More …

Avi Friedman, MFT
Avi Friedman, MFT
Avi is a Marriage and Family Therapist and a Certified Health and Wellness Coach. He has empowered both patients and his community to make significant changes in their lives with accountability and focus.

Avi can be reached at healthcoachavi@gmail.com or at 347-531-6057
Avi Friedman, MFT
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It is common knowledge that physical exertion and exercise have dramatic impacts on our physical health. All nutritional programs will tell you that the combination of nutrition and exercise is the key to staying physically healthy. There is an abundance of evidence confirming that physical activity can improve chronic conditions and prevent many serious medical Read More …

Sarah Last
Sarah Last is a passionate 21-year-old from Plainview, New York. She is currently attending Stern College for Women, majoring in Psychology and minoring in Education. Sarah has been diagnosed with anxiety, Depression, OCD and BPD and wishes to use her experience with mental illness to help others and break the stigma.
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Editor’s Note: This blog post is sponsored by Tanya Kakon in memory of Shlomo Ben Liora. May his neshama have an aliya. If you would like to sponsor a blog post, please click here. Self-harm urges can be very powerful and difficult to navigate. I would know. Particularly troubling is that 1 in 5 females Read More …