Health Advize

  • About Us
    • Our Accomplishments
    • Medical Advisory Board
  • What We Do
  • Who We Help
  • Our Blog
  • Contact

Suicide in Israel: which resources are available to me?

April 10, 2018 By Aviva Yoselis 3 Comments

When I was in fourth grade, I rode to school every day with four other children. All five families paid a lady driver to take us to school since all the parents worked and there was no school bus from our neighborhood. One of my fellow passengers, Josh, was a quirky, pale, boy in the fifth grade, with brown spiky hair, a silly half smile, and random odd comments staccatoed out during our 20-minute commute that certainly made the ride to school more interesting. I vividly remember one school night, when my mother sat me down after dinner, and quietly explained that Josh had taken his own life. He’d somehow caused damage to part of the house, ran into his room, and later, after removing the door, his parents found that he had hanged himself. This was my first introduction to suicide.

Despite the best efforts of family, friends, and health professionals, there are people, unfortunately, who choose to end their own lives. We all have been touched by this devastating tragedy. In Israel, it appears that several hundred people, more men than women, commit suicide each year. According to a recent Ministry of Health report, the risk is greater if you are single or divorced. The risk is twice as great if you are an immigrant from the FSU, and four times as high among Ethiopian immigrants.

One-third of the men who took their own lives had children under 18.

There are resources available to youth and adults at risk for suicide and/or suffering abuse. However, not all agencies, unfortunately, offer a response in English.

Here’s an updated (as of January 2018) list of organizations that respond in English.  [Thanks to my jinternship intern for being the guinea pig].

Name in English Name in Hebrew Phone number Comments
Eran (Mental Health Crisis Hotline) ער”ן עזרה ראשונה נפשית 1201 English available
Rape Crisis Center מרכז סיוע לנפגעות תקיפה מינית 1202, 1203 English available
Rape Crisis Hotline for Haredi/Religious Women קו סיוע לנשים דתיות-חרדיות נפגעות תקיפה מינית 02-6730002 English available
24-hour helpline for abused women (Vitzo) קו סיוע לנשים מוכות של ויצ”ו 24 שעות ביממה 1-800-39-39-04 English available
24-hour hotline for abused women קו חירום לנשים מוכות 24 שעות ביממה 1-800-353-300 Understood English/trouble speaking
Helpline for women in crisis קש”ב – קו שירות לנשים במצוקה 09-7747760 09-7412858 Understood English/trouble speaking
Bat Melech Battered Women’s Shelter for Religious/Haredi Women בת מלך- מקלט ודירות לנשים דתיות וחרדיות 1-800-292-333 English available
Kav l’ Noar (for youth) קו לנוער 02-622-3039 Services in English

 

 

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Filed Under: decisions, depression, healthcare, Israel, mental health, prevention, suicide

previous posts

  • 5 FUN Facts to Remember about Bituach Leumi When You Make Aliyah
  • How to Empower Your Clients in 3 Easy Steps
  • Important News on Celiac
  • Ask Aviva #27

Comments

  1. Omi Leissner says

    April 13, 2018 at 8:09 am

    As far as I know, the common statistic is that more girls/women thand boys/men “attempt” suicide, but the opposite is true when it comes to “success rates.”
    Important topic!

    Reply
    • Aviva Yoselis says

      May 9, 2018 at 9:35 am

      Hi Omi, thanks for bringing that point up. Good to remember.

      Reply
  2. Tamah Kushner says

    April 15, 2018 at 11:41 pm

    Thank you for touching on such a difficult subject. One of my first encounters with suicide which left a lasting impression.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Finally! You Can Understand Israel’s HealthCare System

Sign up for your FREE download of The Pocket Guide to Managing Your Healthcare in Israel: Updated!

TIP OF THE WEEK:

IVF 40 years anniversary, my anniversary! And what’s available in fertility treatment in Israel?

Follow us on Facebook

Follow us on Facebook

Search this Site

Finally! You Can Understand Israel's HealthCare System
Sign up for your FREE download of The Pocket Guide to Managing Your Healthcare in Israel: Updated!

All consultations are confidential. Your privacy is strictly protected.

All content provided on this site and during the consultations is strictly informational and not meant to serve as a medical diagnosis or treatment of any kind or as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this site.

Copyright © 2021 Aviva Yoselis · Website by Yes Potential