
The number of mental health cases among children in Israel’s north continues to rise, as the often un-mentioned war in the north continues with no end in sight. A recent survey indicated a troubling trend, raising concerns that the authorities are not acting enough to offer a solution. Abigail Bar, an educational psychologist in northern Israel, warned: “In the north, we are seeing a sharp increase in cases of anxiety, depression and eating disorders.”
“There is also an increase in violence and aggressive behaviors. Parents are desperate. Children are signed up for treatment, but they don’t know if they will receive it before being evacuated,” said Bar. She continued saying that “the deep psychological impacts of the situation require comprehensive intervention.”
A comprehensive survey of 462 educational psychologists revealed that 92% reported that the current war increased the number of patients seeking psychological treatment, and 91% reported an increase in the number of referrals for therapeutic intervention by educational psychological services since the beginning of the war.
Psychologists are warning that the sharp increase in referrals is yet to come and is expected to come with the aftermath of the war, when people emerge from their survival mode. Patients endure unusually long wait times to see a provider, emphasizing the drastic shortage of psychologists.
The study also found that 37% of educational psychologists reported waiting times for treatment ranging from half a year to a year, while 21% even waited longer. Furthermore, 32% of psychologists felt pressured to end treatments against their professional opinion, 30% reported that more than half of their patients had to end treatment prematurely, and 16% reported that more than half of their patients had to terminate treatment due to bureaucratic circumstances.
The Chairman of the Israel Psychological Association Yoram Schleyer sent an urgent letter to Education Minister Yoav Kisch, reported that, during the ongoing war, the psychological damage is expanding and students are experiencing a dramatic increase in psychological distress among children. According to the letter, the profession can’t meet the demand for care due to a shortage of educational psychologists.
The letter further claims that the ongoing neglect of the public psychology system pushes many outside the system, leading to its collapse unfortunately timed precisely during the most difficult period for Israel’s children.
There is a shortage of educational psychologists by about 30% . There should be one psychologist for every 1,000 students and one for every 500 kindergarten children, yet there is only one psychologist for every 1,400-1,500 children.
More grim statistics include that only 28% of educational psychologists expressed willingness to work in the public sector, compared to 46% two years ago, 37% of them do not expect to be working in the public sector in the coming years, and that 32% of educational psychologists doubt they will work in the public sector next year.
A major reason for the lack of professionals, in addition to the difficulties of the work, is the measly salary. The salary is currently only $13 per hour. Some 75% private sector educational psychologists said they are willing to return to the public sector if there is an improvement in wages.
The Education Ministry responded to the survey by saying: “The ministry is fully engaged in the struggle and recognizes the urgent need to support psychologists at this time. The ministry is working on a comprehensive salary agreement for psychologists in public service, including educational psychologists.
{Matzav.com}
The government is not here to.help…. they prefer destroying…