The Israeli newspaper Haaretz revealed yesterday evening, Monday, that dozens of doctors working in the field of mental health had left Israel for Britain.
This comes at a time when the mental health system in Israel is collapsing following the outbreak of war on October 7.
Frustration and difficulties
In detail, a report by the Hebrew newspaper stated that “dozens of psychiatrists working in the public health system recently left for Britain, according to sources in the field.”
She added that this wave of departures comes at a time when “the demand for mental health assistance is increasing in the country in light of the war, and now the mental health system is facing a real problem.”
Haaretz explained that although plans for the departure of psychiatrists began even before the war against the backdrop of the “judicial reform” plan, “the October 7 attack (the Al-Aqsa flood battle) froze their plans for some time, before dozens of psychiatrists returned and underwent subjugation.” In the last months of the licensing exams to practice medicine in Britain.
The newspaper also quoted a senior manager of the mental health system as saying: “In Britain, they will not necessarily enjoy a higher salary, but what drives them to leave is the frustration caused by the heavy workload, and the feeling that they find it difficult to see how the situation will improve in the future.”
He pointed out that the mental health system in Britain is “more organized, there is less crowding and shorter working hours.”
Acute shortage
According to official data, there is one psychiatrist in the public service in Israel for every 11,705 residents.
In this regard, Shmuel Hirschman, head of the Forum for Directors of Mental Health Centers, explains that there is currently a shortage of about 400 psychiatrists in the mental health system, and he warned that within five years there will be a double shortage, “because many of them are approaching or after retirement age.”
In this context, the occupation authorities were forced to seek the help of volunteers after mental health services became unable to deal with collective trauma in Israel since October 7.
Psychoanalyst and lecturer at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Ofrit Shapira Berman, told CNN last month: “Up to 500 volunteer psychoanalysts are supporting the families of the dead, wounded, and detained prisoners. Conditions are not good, and everyone’s mental health condition is getting worse.”
A study by the University of Haifa revealed that 60% of Israelis who were not in the first two circles of war victims suffered from what is called “acute stress disorder,” which represents a development of post-traumatic stress disorder, which is an emotional and psychological disorder resulting from direct exposure to a terrifying event.
A similar study by the Center for Suicide and Psychological Pain Studies in Israel also revealed an increase in rates of post-traumatic stress disorder among Israelis from 16% before the war to 30% after it, while rates of depression and anxiety rose to nearly 45% after the war, according to Yedioth. Ahronot.”
A cry of despair
It is noteworthy that late last month, the Forum of Directors of Mental Health Centers telegraphed to “State Comptroller” Matanyahu Engelman, sending “a cry of despair regarding the difficult situation of the mental health system,” according to what Haaretz reported.
The directors continued in their letter: “The events of October 7 caused the presence of approximately 300,000 additional psychiatric patients, who will need treatment at the hands of a specialist trained in Israel.”
“Moreover, it is not yet known from the ongoing fighting in the Gaza Strip how many combat troops will suffer from battlefield reactions,” they said. “We are already seeing a tens of percent increase in demand for mental health services.”
2024-01-02 07:36:48
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