Mental Health Care Crisis in Israel: Psychiatrists and Psychologists Struggle with Shortages and Low Wages Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

On Wednesday, May 15th, a meeting of the Knesset Health Committee was held to address the shortage of qualified psychiatrists in the public health care system and the low wages of psychologists working in the field. This meeting was initiated by Deputies Ahmad Tibi, Yaron Levi, Naama Lazimi, and Michal Woldiger in response to concerns raised by healthcare professionals.

The situation with psychologists’ salaries is also concerning, with many professionals earning as little as 32 shekels per hour. A representative from the Oti organization shared that psychologists are considering leaving the profession due to these low wages.

During the meeting, a mother shared her struggles to access mental health care for her suicidal child suffering from anorexia. Long wait times for psychiatric appointments have worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to delays in treatment and inadequate support for vulnerable individuals.

Dr. Marina Kupchik, the head of the Israel Psychiatric Association, expressed her concerns about the declining state of the public health care system. She highlighted that many psychiatrists are leaving the country, and young professionals are choosing to pursue opportunities outside of the public sector. Despite these challenges, Dr. Kupchik mentioned that there are young doctors in the Arab sector eager to contribute but they face barriers due to insufficient funding and support. The committee members pledged to look into ways to address these issues and improve accessibility of mental health care services for all citizens.