In recent years, waiting times for mental health treatment, especially for children, have been increasing to a year or even two. Now, the Ministry of Health has decided to close another public mental health clinic, the only one of its kind in the Kiryat Ata area, which provides services to children and youth aged 6 to 18. The clinic conducts more than 2,000 therapy sessions a year.
The mental health station, which is an extension of Ma'ale Carmel Mental Health Hospital, closed earlier this month after the clinic's director left his position. Anyone who needs psychological treatment is sent to receive it at the HMO's clinics.
Veteran patients were told that there was no longer treatment at the clinic and were referred to Ma'ale Carmel Hospital, a three-bus ride away, to receive treatment. Calls to the clinic are answered with a recording that says: "As of 1 May, there is no response to medication and a hospital must be contacted."
The Forum of Public Psychology Organizations warns that the closure will severely harm the health of children and adolescents. According to them, the reason for the closure lies in the Ministry of Health's reluctance to appoint psychologists or social workers to the position of clinic directors. Therefore, due to the shortage of psychiatrists, there is no manager for the place.
In the past, Israel Hayom reported on similar cases in which there is a threat to close mental health clinics, especially those for children.
"It is inconceivable that at a time with such long waiting lines for mental health treatment, the Health Ministry's choice is to close services and not expand," says Yifat Sadeh, head of the Movement for Public Psychology. "The children who need treatment are children who suffer from conditions that lead to severe anxiety or anxiety, severe social rejection and distress. They can't afford a year's wait times. A child with anxiety will be in a year waiting for treatment with severe depression, and possibly suicide. As for a child suffering from suicide, I don't know where he will be in a waiting year. Mental health treatment can bring children back to functioning."
"The children may be hurt", treatment. , Photo: GettyImages
"Stop the injustice"
Sadeh says that after the mental health reform, they promised that the health funds would open mental health clinics in the community. "But the ministry didn't make sure there was such an alternative before announcing the closure of the clinic," she explains. "We are now in a state of national and mental emergency, in light of the familiar security situation, the Corona period, and recently also the social crisis that is tearing the people apart. It is inconceivable that at this time mental health services for citizens will be reduced, rather than increased."
Sadeh mentions that in the past, mental health clinics were also closed in Ashdod, as we reported in Israel Hayom, alongside the closure of clinics in Lod, Rishon LeZion and Acre – in what seems like a trend.
The Forum also addressed Health Minister Moshe Arbel and Kiryat Ata Mayor Yaakov Peretz, calling on them to intervene and establish mental health clinics for children and youth of all the HMOs within Kiryat Ata.
There is a threat of closing mental health clinics, particularly those for children, Photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto
The Ministry of Health's response: "The clinic has not closed. The clinic served only a few dozen patients, but its activity was reduced following the departure of female employees. Therefore, in dialogue with patients, some of them were referred to the HMOs, and those who requested it were received at the hospital clinic itself, which is only about 25 minutes away from the clinic. The hospital will improve the service."
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