Healing hearts and minds

As with most countries, Israel’s public mental health system was stressed before October 7.

There is a major shortage of psychiatrists in Israel. To serve a population of 10 million people, Israel has only 1,600 licensed psychiatrists. Of them, 1,000 serve an adult population, while only 300 serve children. Another 300 psychiatrists are over the age of 67 and work independently.

Most work part-time in the public system (at a low salary), and in nonprofits and private clinics. Approximately 4.5% of the adults and 2.5% of children are treated annually in Israel’s public mental health system. These low numbers reflect how much greater demand is than the existing system can accommodate. In fact, an estimated one million people are waiting for an extended period of time for an appointment.

Following October 7, of course, the need has only grown, with tens of thousands of Israelis–both civilians and members of the IDF–in need of mental trauma assistance.

To address the staggering demand, Israel’s Ministry of Health has built a broad program to respond to the needs of its citizens.

The Community Intervention Initiative is one such response. This project–a collaboration between psychiatric wards in mainstream hospitals and dedicated psychiatric hospitals–has twin objectives: to offer comprehensive treatment, and to erase stigma and anxiety for those seeking psychiatric treatment.

The Initiative aims to establish 16 new intervention centers throughout Israel–outside of hospital settings–that will treat those at higher risk for developing severe symptoms. Research shows that early intervention, especially in cases of trauma, can substantially lower the severity of Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome in the future.

The target population–as identified by the Ministry of Health–includes the following:

*Victims of October 7 and its aftermath suffering from PTSD. An estimated 10% of people exposed to those traumas will require intensive treatment.

*Patients from before October 7 whose conditions have worsened since the war began.

*Evacuees experiencing increased anxiety, family challenges, and other triggers.

*Children and teens who already have waited for an extended time for diagnosis and treatment.

Unlike other programs, the new intervention centers will allow clinicians to treat patients regardless of their financial situations.

The centers will be designed with an inviting and warm aesthetic, debunking preconceived stigmas of what a mental health treatment center “looks like.” The centers will be staffed by large psychiatric and professional therapeutic teams, specializing in a wide range of treatments.

In addition to treating patients, the centers plan to expand mental health internship opportunities. The centers also will employ cutting-edge technology, including AI, to offer new and better treatments.

The intervention centers will also facilitate greater awareness and understanding of mental health care, helping to eradicate stigmas.

JUF has provided a grant to support the creation of these 16 centers, accounting for roughly 15% of the project’s cost. In this way, our Chicago community, in full partnership with Israel’s government and nonprofits, is playing a pivotal role in bringing mental health support to thousands of Israelis.

Two of the centers are already up and running; they proudly display the JUF logo as a symbol of our community’s steadfast support for the people of Israel.

Ofer Bavly is a JUF Vice President and the Director General of the JUF Israel Office.