Professional and service-user perspectives regarding the future of mental healthcare in Israel
Abstract Background A recent call has been made in Israel to address the needs of citizens inflicted by multiple adversities such world pandemic, internal conflicts, events of mass trauma and ongoing war. Nonetheless, public’s and mental health professional’s view regarding these needs and their pri...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Israel Journal of Health Policy Research |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13584-025-00710-7 |
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| author | Amit Kramer Anat Brunstein-Klomek Nili Neuthal Tal Nakash Bar Dana Tzur Bitan |
| author_facet | Amit Kramer Anat Brunstein-Klomek Nili Neuthal Tal Nakash Bar Dana Tzur Bitan |
| author_sort | Amit Kramer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background A recent call has been made in Israel to address the needs of citizens inflicted by multiple adversities such world pandemic, internal conflicts, events of mass trauma and ongoing war. Nonetheless, public’s and mental health professional’s view regarding these needs and their prioritization is not well understood. This study aims to bridge this gap in knowledge, by assessing mental health service users and professionals’ views regarding the future of mental health in Israel. Methods Two surveys were distributed to mental health professionals and service users. Responders (286 professionals and 522 service users) were asked about their vision for future mental health services and their views regarding the integration of technology and innovation, using a close-ended measure developed by mental health professionals to address local challenges. Results The top-rated category among professionals and service users was improving accessibility, with 75% of the service users and 82% of the professionals ranking this item as one of top-three items. Individuals with less experience with the mental healthcare system tended to rank personalized care as second-ranked priority (OR = 0.48, p = 0.04), whereas highly experienced individuals were more likely to rank alternatives to psychiatric hospitalization as third-ranked priority (OR = 2.99, p < 0.001). Professionals ranked the level of innovation in Israel’s mental healthcare as 3.37 (SD = 1.82), and service users ranked 3.18 (SD = 2.12) out of 10. Among mental health professionals, lack of resources was rated as the predominant challenge in implementing technology and innovation. Conclusions Policy and decision-makers in Israel should consider addressing the issue of mental healthcare accessibility as top priority when planning a mental health reform, as well as routes to improve personalized care and alternative to psychiatric admissions. Steps should be taken to improve innovation and technology as means to improve the quality of mental healthcare in Israel. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e9eb802ee3a740688a68758d262e72e7 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2045-4015 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Israel Journal of Health Policy Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-e9eb802ee3a740688a68758d262e72e72025-08-20T03:05:09ZengBMCIsrael Journal of Health Policy Research2045-40152025-08-011411910.1186/s13584-025-00710-7Professional and service-user perspectives regarding the future of mental healthcare in IsraelAmit Kramer0Anat Brunstein-Klomek1Nili Neuthal2Tal Nakash Bar3Dana Tzur Bitan4Department of Community Mental Health, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of HaifaBaruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Reichman UniversityDepartment of Community Mental Health, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of HaifaBaruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Reichman UniversityDepartment of Community Mental Health, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of HaifaAbstract Background A recent call has been made in Israel to address the needs of citizens inflicted by multiple adversities such world pandemic, internal conflicts, events of mass trauma and ongoing war. Nonetheless, public’s and mental health professional’s view regarding these needs and their prioritization is not well understood. This study aims to bridge this gap in knowledge, by assessing mental health service users and professionals’ views regarding the future of mental health in Israel. Methods Two surveys were distributed to mental health professionals and service users. Responders (286 professionals and 522 service users) were asked about their vision for future mental health services and their views regarding the integration of technology and innovation, using a close-ended measure developed by mental health professionals to address local challenges. Results The top-rated category among professionals and service users was improving accessibility, with 75% of the service users and 82% of the professionals ranking this item as one of top-three items. Individuals with less experience with the mental healthcare system tended to rank personalized care as second-ranked priority (OR = 0.48, p = 0.04), whereas highly experienced individuals were more likely to rank alternatives to psychiatric hospitalization as third-ranked priority (OR = 2.99, p < 0.001). Professionals ranked the level of innovation in Israel’s mental healthcare as 3.37 (SD = 1.82), and service users ranked 3.18 (SD = 2.12) out of 10. Among mental health professionals, lack of resources was rated as the predominant challenge in implementing technology and innovation. Conclusions Policy and decision-makers in Israel should consider addressing the issue of mental healthcare accessibility as top priority when planning a mental health reform, as well as routes to improve personalized care and alternative to psychiatric admissions. Steps should be taken to improve innovation and technology as means to improve the quality of mental healthcare in Israel.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13584-025-00710-7Public mental healthInnovation challengesService usersProfessionalsAttitudes |
| spellingShingle | Amit Kramer Anat Brunstein-Klomek Nili Neuthal Tal Nakash Bar Dana Tzur Bitan Professional and service-user perspectives regarding the future of mental healthcare in Israel Israel Journal of Health Policy Research Public mental health Innovation challenges Service users Professionals Attitudes |
| title | Professional and service-user perspectives regarding the future of mental healthcare in Israel |
| title_full | Professional and service-user perspectives regarding the future of mental healthcare in Israel |
| title_fullStr | Professional and service-user perspectives regarding the future of mental healthcare in Israel |
| title_full_unstemmed | Professional and service-user perspectives regarding the future of mental healthcare in Israel |
| title_short | Professional and service-user perspectives regarding the future of mental healthcare in Israel |
| title_sort | professional and service user perspectives regarding the future of mental healthcare in israel |
| topic | Public mental health Innovation challenges Service users Professionals Attitudes |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13584-025-00710-7 |
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