Mental health chief says not everyone needs a psychologist amid rising demand for care

Amid a rise in the use of psychiatric medications since October 7, including cases where drugs were prescribed to cover missed therapy sessions, Dr. Gilad Bodenheimer, head of the Mental Health Division at Israel’s Health Ministry, said the public should understand that family and community support can also help recovery. He spoke in an interview at ynet and Yedioth Ahronoth’s “State in Post-Trauma” conference, held in cooperation with the Histadrut.

“Important that the public understand there are family and community healing powers, and not everyone needs to come to a psychiatrist or psychologist. Whoever needs to, should do so, certainly,” he said.

Against the backdrop of a shortage of therapists, Bodenheimer warned that people who wait too long for treatment and deteriorate may end up needing medication before therapy becomes available. “There can be such situations,” he said, referring to patients whose condition worsens while stuck on waiting lists.