Jewish Care Victoria Launches New Video in Honour of Mental Health Week
To honour Mental Health Week (9-15 October 2016) – an annual campaign to raise awareness of mental health, Jewish Care is launching the next video in its Reach Out, Speak Out series, ‘Dov’s Story’.
The video features Dr Dov Degen sharing his experience of living with bipolar disorder.
The first instalment of Jewish Care’s new Reach Out, Speak Out video campaign was launched in September, featuring highlights of interviews with Jewish community members with a lived experience of mental ill-health.
When Dov first experienced symptoms of mental health issues in Year 12, no one quite understood what was occurring. Being diagnosed with bipolar disorder helped Dov find the support he needed in order to get back on track, and sparked his passion for speaking out about mental health. Now a successful doctor, Dov is living proof that mental illness doesn’t stop you from leading a full and meaningful life.
“Many people have commented to me that I am brave for speaking so publicly about my experiences, however I think vulnerability is a necessity to destigmatise the taboo surrounding mental illness. If we do not speak up about our experiences, how can we possibly hope to start a dialogue and effect change?”
