SERVICES AND TRENDS IN ISRAELS MENTAL-HEALTH-SYSTEM

Despite a rapidly growing population, continuing funding shortages, an d threats to its national security, Israel has developed a comprehensi ve mental health care system, based on the psychiatric hospital. Servi ces are provided through several networks, including government-financ ed and for-profit hospitals, government-financed mental health clinics in each of 23 service areas, and four health funds. Other networks pr ovide care for specific groups such as soldiers, kibbutz members, orth odox Jews, and Israeli Arabs. The system's reliance on the hospital cr eates special problems, such as dependency and fragmentation of care, and a community mental health model adopted almost 20 years ago has ye t to achieve the goal of shifting treatment to the community. However, Israel's mental health system is in a transition period. By drawing o n its many strengths and learning from other countries' experience, Is rael has the potential for developing a unique community-focused syste m.