Published on: 01/16/2024 (Last updated: 01/17/2024 at: 08:36)
Tel Aviv – Ma’an – Israel is facing a wave of the most serious psychological traumas amid the mental health system’s inability to respond to requests for help, according to what Israeli psychiatric experts confirm.
According to a report published by the Israeli newspaper “Jerusalem Post”, the Israeli mental health system has remained inadequate for many years, and the long waiting periods, especially in areas located on the outskirts, were a testament to the neglect faced by those dealing with mental health challenges, noting that since the attack On the 7th of last November, the public health system was subjected to a flood of distress calls, which were expected to reach great proportions.
Israeli psychiatry experts predicted that one in three people directly or indirectly affected by the war, including families and friends of hostages, those injured or those who lost loved ones, may develop post-traumatic stress disorder in the coming months.
The Israeli ERAN Center’s distress hotlines are already handling more than 100,000 calls, which is unprecedented since the center was established. HMOs have also seen a significant increase in inquiries related to mental health, and Clalit Health Services has reported a 25% increase. percent in the use of psychiatric medications, a 52 percent increase in anxiety-related conditions, and a 45 percent increase in post-traumatic stress diagnoses.
Eli Cohen, CEO of Clalit, said, “As the largest health fund in Israel that serves more than 50 percent of the country’s population, most of those displaced due to the situation in the north and south have become our patients.”
2024-01-16 17:15:12
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