More than a third of people in distress were diagnosed as having a high level of risk;
"It can be prevented"
In order to combat the phenomenon of suicide in Israel, the Ministry of Welfare and Social Security published the first online questionnaire of its kind, which examines suicidal situations.
About 36% of the respondents who have filled it so far have been diagnosed as high risk.
Most of the respondents to the questionnaire were women
Meirav Cohen
20/02/2022
Sunday, 20 February 2022, 18:58 Updated: 20:08
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As part of the inter-ministerial program to combat suicide, the Ministry of Welfare and Social Security recently published a first-of-its-kind online questionnaire, which examines suicidal risk situations for people in distress, crisis or state of mental pain.
The data show that 1,389 of the 5,489 people who filled out the questionnaire from the date of its publication on December 9, 2021, are at a high level of danger, and 605 at an acute level of danger.
According to data from the Ministry of Health, every year about 400 people in Israel end their lives, but experts believe that the number is even higher, close to 500, but in many cases death is not classified as suicide.
Men commit suicide about 4 times more than women (79% of suicides are men and 21% are women), and among the age groups a high percentage of suicides are aged 75 and over.
The anonymous questionnaire compiled by experts in the study of the phenomenon of suicide is also intended for friends and family members of people experiencing difficulties.
To date, 46% of the completed questionnaires have been completed by the person diagnosed.
It was further reported that most of the respondents to the questionnaire were women.
After completing the questionnaire, recommendations are received as to who can be contacted for assistance, headed by the mental health centers of the Ministry of Health.
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36% of the respondents to the questionnaire were diagnosed with a high level of risk (Photo: MDA)
"We set up an inter-ministerial committee to provide an emergency response to young people, also because it has the biggest jump in mental illness, but also from a perception that the deterioration to suicide can be prevented if treated at an early age," explained Minister of Welfare and Social Security Meir Cohen.
"We invest a lot of thought and resources in developing services that will help prevent mental crisis and distress even for adults and one of them is the self-diagnosis questionnaire that ends with a referral for assistance."
Meanwhile, a few days ago, a patient hospitalized in the psychiatric ward of Sheba Medical Center, who went out for ventilation throughout the hospital with the approval of the ward and according to the strict and accepted procedures, was found lifeless several hours on the hospital grounds.
The incident was reported to the Ministry of Health and all relevant parties, as required.
The hospital said that they are examining the details of the case and the conclusions and insights will be reported to the Ministry of Health.
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