The Charlotte Jewish News - August 2018 - Page 13
Suicide Trends Are Troubling and on the Rise
The recent high profile suicides
of Kate Spade and Anthony Boirr-
dain have elevated the awareness
of and conversation aroimd men
tal health. The shock element of
why someone who appears “to
have it all” would take their life
only reinforces what the experts
have been saying for years; men
tal health has no boundaries. It
has no income level, no gender
preference, and can occirr at any
stage of life. It can and does im
pact anyone, regardless of race or
religion. It is important to note
that while the suicide deaths of
people like Spade and Boirrdain
may have heightened attention
aroimd this issue, suicide rates
have been increasing across all
age groups since 1999. In fact, ac
cording to the Center for Disease
Control and Prevention, death
by suicide has increased by 30%
over the past two decades. It is
now the 2nd major cause of death
for youth between the ages of 10
and 24, and our older adults are
the 2nd highest population at risk
for suicide. Death by suicide has
become the 10th leading cause of
death in the United States.
The importance of mental
health is gaining momentum.
Some states are beginning the
conversation earlier and earli
er. New York and Virginia re
cently passed laws mandating
a mental health curriculum in
their schools. In Virginia, men
tal health education will become
part of the curriculum for 9th
and 10th grades. “70% of those
people who struggle with mental
illness first experience an episode
sometime between 14 and 24. So
that’s in 10th grade, it’s is exactly
the right time when people ought
to be given the tools they need to
be able to understand these ill
nesses,” said Virginia State Sen
ator Creigh Deeds. The law New
York passed updates curriculum
in elementary, middle, and high
schools to include material on
mental health. And while we are
probably a long way from man
dating mental health education in
our schools in NC, where on av
erage, someone commits suicide
about every six hours, the topic of
mental health and suicide is mov
ing to the forefront.
Through a grant funded by
our local Jewish Federation, we
are implementing programs that
raise awareness about depression
and suicide that also educate the
community about warning signs,
strategies, and resources to help
those suffering from a menM
health issue. Through this Mental
Health Initiative, Jewish Fami
ly Services will be hosting two
programs this fall to elevate the
dialogue surrounding the impact
mental health has on our day-to-
day lives.
On September 14, QPR, a sui
cide prevention program, will be
offered from 11:30 AM-1 PM.
QPR stands for Question, Per
suade, Refer and is a training for
the non-professional to learn how
to identify someone who might
be at risk of harming themselves
and how to respond.
Coffee and Conversation, a
small group discussion for any
one interested in learning more
about mental health, community
resources, and sharing your expe
rience will be held on November
8 from 9-10 AM. Hear one per
son’s experience of what it is like
to live with a mental illness and
share your own experiences or
just learn how you can engage in
the conversation of educating our
community.
There are usually early indica
tors leading up the act of taking
The Ruach and Rabbi Smookler to
Provide Free Alternative Service for Rosh
HaShanah
This year the Charlotte Jew
ish community will have a new
alternative for observing Rosh
Hashanah: The Rosh Hashanah
Experience. The Experience, led
by The Ruach (Hebrew for “spir
it”) and Rabbi Rachel Smookler,
is a fast-paced service with lots
of new Jewish music mixed with
some familiar melodies and read
ings. It will have all the elements
of a complete Rosh Hashanah ser
vice including Torah reading and
blowing of the shofar.
The Experience happens at
10:30 AM on Monday, September
10 at the Infinity Ballroom locat
ed at 4038 Old Pineville Road and
will last until about noon. Dan
Ruda, The Ruach’s bass player
and backup singer says, “We are
super excited about this venue. It
is really easy to get to, has plenty
of free parking, and is jnst a five
minute walk from the light rail’s
Scaleybark Station ... and it has a
great sound system.”
When asked about what makes
The Rosh Hashanah Experience
special Rabbi Smookler replied,
“The uplifting music will create
the sacred experience necessary
to transform yourself for the New
Year. The Experience will shake
up any previously held beliefs
you may have had about religious
services and will leave you want
ing more.”
Much of the music was written
by The Ruach. The rest was writ
ten by other well-known Jewish
artists including Sheldon Low,
Rick Recht, Dan Nichols, and
Josh Nelson. All of it combines
traditional prayer and liturgy with
modem music written for today’s
world.
Franklin Kaunitz, The Ruach’s
Rabbi Rachel Smookler
violinist and backup vocalist, had
this to say about The Rosh Hasha
nah Experience: “This will be a
great opportunity to connect with
other Jews who are looking for
a more spiritual and meaningful
experience during the High Holy
Days. If you believe that prayer
is the song of the heart, then this
is the Rosh Hashanah service for
you.”
The Rosh Hashanah Experi
ence is free and has been made
possible as a result of generous
grant made by Marshall Rauch
and the Rauch Foundation. Ev
eryone is welcome. There are no
tickets, no membership. Nancy
Good, lead singer and rhythm
guitarist for The Ruach, encour
ages folks to “experience the New
Year by joining a community
brought together by a passion for
music, Judaism, and ruach.”
Prior to moving to Charlotte
in August 2017, Rabbi Smookler
was the Head Rabbi of Temple
one’s own life. 90% of people
who commit suicide have a men
tal illness such as depression or
bi-polar disorder and between
50% and 75% of people who at
tempt suicide talk about their sui
cidal thoughts, feelings, and plans
before they act. Creating aware
ness and learning how to help
someone with a mental health
issue is critical to reducing the
risk of someone committing sui
cide. What can be done? Become
aware of the signs of depression
and risk factors for suicide, and
be sure to take them seriously. Of
fer support, be there to talk and/
or listen and help by encouraging
whoever is troubled to seek pro
fessional help.
For more information on the
programs listed in this article
or for any questions regarding
mental health services, call Jew
ish Family Services at 704-364-
6594.
Beth David, a Conservative egal
itarian synagogue in Rochester,
NY. Before that, she held the title
of Chief Rabbi of Japan. Rabbi
Smookler graduated from the
University of Minnesota with
a bachelor’s degree in Jewish
Studies and completed the rab
binical graduate program at New
York City’s Hebrew Union Col
lege-Jewish Institute of Religion .
The Ruach is a Charlotte-based
band playing modem Jewish mu
sic and is an independent 501(c)
(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organi
zation. All band members volun
teer their time and talent; none are
paid. The Ruach is Nancy Good,
lead vocals and rhythm guitar; Pe
ter Levinson, lead guitar and band
manager; Dan Ruda, bass and
backup vocals; Franklin Kaunitz,
violin and backup vocals; Howard
Swartz, percussion; David Krus-
ch, drums and backup vocals; and
Rick Lipson, drums. The mission
of The Ruach is to spread the joy
of Judaism through meaningful
musical experiences that connect
heart and mind, and create a spir
itual community. Tracks from the
band’s first album “Real. Jewish.
Rock.” have been featured on
Jewish Rock Radio, the internet
radio station for today’s Jewish
music, and included on a CD that
is a compilation of songs by both
Israeli and American artists. Says
Sheldon Low about The Ruach:
“Really, really fun music; love
the energy.”
For more information, con
tact Peter Levinson at the.ruach.
band@gmail.com. Follow The
Ruach on Facebook @theruach-
band; on Instagram @the.mach.
new.jewish.music; and on Twitter
@TheRuachSpirit.*5*
Larry Horowitz, CLU, ChFC
FinanGal
15720 Brixham Hall Ave., Ste 575
Charlotte, NC 28277
704-609-7505 larry.horowitz@skype
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