Shocking report reveals:  Millions suffering with mental health, yet less than 1% receive treatment

The findings paint a grim picture of the country’s mental health infrastructure, revealing its collapse under the overwhelming demand for mental health services.

The report, released on Tuesday, estimates that approximately 3 million adults—nearly 38% of Israel’s population—have experienced symptoms of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) since the war began. However, only 0.6% of those affected have received professional treatment through health management organizations (HMOs) or resilience centers. Engelman stressed that the mental health system, which was already under strain before the war, was unable to cope with the crisis. "The system collapsed in the first days of the war," Engelman stated.

Despite sending early warnings to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the impending crisis, Engelman noted that the system had not been adequately repaired. The report follows a survey conducted in April 2024, six months after the Hamas attacks, which resulted in over 1,200 Israeli deaths and the kidnapping of 251 hostages.

Engelman’s report sharply criticizes the Health Ministry’s failure to address the mental health needs of the population, accusing Health Minister Uriel Buso and Director-General Moshe Bar Siman-Tov of neglecting to update Israel’s emergency mental health plans. Despite recommendations from the National Emergency Management Authority dating back to 2001, there was no structured response when war broke out, with mental health efforts relying heavily on volunteer initiatives that lacked continuity and organization.

The report reveals that among a survey of 1,010 adults, 33% reported moderate to severe symptoms of PTSD or depression, while 20% experienced anxiety symptoms. With an expected 900,000 individuals seeking professional mental health care in the near future, the system is already overwhelmed. Yet, as of March 2024, less than 1% of the population has received any mental health services through the public healthcare system.

The report highlights significant barriers to accessing care, such as long wait times (with psychiatric treatment requiring six-month waits), privacy concerns (17% of respondents worried about confidentiality), a shortage of qualified providers, and a lack of resources. Engelman expressed disbelief that people were being forced to wait so long for treatment, warning that this delay could lead to chronic mental health issues.

Children have been hit especially hard by the crisis. Of the 10,500 children evacuated from Sderot, only 440 (4%) received treatment. Among adults evacuated from other areas, only 11% received care. Survivors of the October 7 attacks, including those at the Nova Festival massacre, are also disproportionately affected, with only 1% of survivors receiving care, despite reporting double the mental health symptoms of those not directly involved.

Health Minister Uriel Buso defended the government’s response, claiming that tens of thousands of Israelis received emergency mental health care in the aftermath of the attack, emphasizing the focus on mental health since the war began. However, Buso dismissed Engelman’s findings as flawed, arguing that the report relied on self-reported symptoms, which he contends cannot accurately predict the number of people seeking treatment. He also warned that such reports could create unnecessary panic.

Professor Jonathan Huppert, a trauma expert from The Hebrew University, agreed that not everyone affected by trauma would require therapy. He suggested that many people might recover naturally once closure is reached, though he acknowledged that the ongoing nature of the trauma means that many continue to struggle.

The mental health disaster facing Israel is a significant concern, with a dire need for more robust and accessible services to address the overwhelming number of individuals affected by the war’s psychological toll. Without immediate intervention, this crisis could have lasting effects on the nation’s well-being.