A recent poll by the Israel Union of Social Workers presented a grim picture of mental health among adults in the country, Israel Hayom learned Tuesday.
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Having surveyed 458 social workers, including in the Arab sector, the poll showed that 82% reported an increase in anxiety, 79% reported an increase in depression and 33% said they witnessed a rise in suicide and suicide attempts cases.
The workers also lamented the lack of enough professionals, leading to delays in the critical treatment of patients. Ninety-three percent said it now takes longer to receive such care, 60% said patients have to wait up to three months to receive a psychiatric diagnosis, and 56% reported psychiatric hospitalization took over a month.
In addition, 92% of respondents said cases of eating disorders also spiked, with patients now waiting up to three months to be hospitalized.
"The coronavirus brings with a lot of mental distress," Inbal Hermoni, president of the Israel Union of Social Workers, said. "The worry and loneliness may not be prevented, but the responses to the distress can be corrected. Besides words, [we also need] resources, beds, and of course, manpower."
Israeli psychiatrist Julie Kayt concurred. "The outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic has greatly aggravated the situation. People are going through personal crises, spend a lot of time indoors and we see an increase in anxiety and depression cases. Now more than ever we feel a shortage of professionals.
Those in need have to wait for months to receive treatment or schedule a meeting with a therapist. Someone I know who is in need of psychiatric care said the earlier she could schedule an appointment in Beersheba was in two and a half months. I sincerely hope that the government will aid us in the situation, she said.
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