Page 239 - EFI-RAV ZILBERSTIN_VOL 8.EFI-RAV ZILBERSTIN_VOL 8.1A

Pg: 239 - 8-Back 21-10-31

He also offers advice for drawing a person out of depression (ibid.,
287):

“In regard to whether a person who has fallen into a depression
and attempted suicide Rachmana litzlan [may the merciful One spare
us], is fit to divorce his wife – this is a weighty question that requires
clarification; certainly if giving a get is agreed upon the question
should be brought to the kings’ table – who are the kings? These are
the Torah scholars. As for the woman‘s demanding a divorce, since
it clear that she would thereby chas veshalom be destroying his life
chalilah, it is correct to speak to her gently. Her merit in living with
him and thereby saving his life is great and it is clear that in the merit
of doing so, she will live to a ripe old age which will be pleasant in
every way with the help of Hashem yisbarach. At any rate, for now, let
her try and live with him for one more year and we shall see what the
situation will be then.

“The main thing is that at the moment we need to give him some
interest in life. Now, since he is an outstanding Torah scholar, if there
was some place where he could deliver a shiur to intelligent students,
such a situation might lift him out of his depression [because the
truth is that its cause arose from some slight wound to his pride,
which destroyed his self respect; he may be unaware of this reason
but that is what happened]. In truth, if he would encounter some
friend whom he could feel genuinely loved and befriended him, that
would be a great salvation and his whole life would be restored to hm.

“Perhaps he could be gotten interested in writing some work that
he could handle – either of his own novel Torah insights or a collec-
tion of whatever [other insights] he finds and considers worthy [of
disseminating] on some maseches of Talmud etc. Perhaps the position
of gabbai (officiant) and supervisor of some chessed enterprise could
be arranged for him...”

Marriage for Schizophrenics 2 223