Magen David Adom, Israel’s national emergency service, has expanded its health emergency response unit amid a 45% rise in mental health-related emergencies over the past year, MDA said on Tuesday.
Attributing the sharp increase to the continued strain of the war, MDA said that its aim is to improve care for mental health related emergencies received through the service’s hotline.
From roughly 19,000 calls registered in 2024, the following year recorded 27,623 cases, many of which consist of acute anxiety episodes, post-traumatic stress symptoms, or a deterioration of preexisting mental health conditions.
“Mental health emergencies are some of the most complex and emotionally charged situations our teams face,” said in a statement Dr. Raphael Strugo, deputy director-general of medicine and blood services at MDA.
