There has been a significant rise in mental illness diagnoses and the use of psychiatric medicine among Israeli teenagers since the beginning of COVID-19, according to a new study conducted by Maccabi Health and the KI Institute.
There has been a 55% rise in eating disorders, a 38% rise in diagnoses of depression and a 33% rise in anxiety disorders. At the same time, the rate of prescriptions for anti-psychotic drugs has risen by 28%.
A poll conducted by the Social Workers Union shows a similar trend., adding that 44% of social workers reported a rise in suicidal behavior among teens.
The study, which was based on the medical records of over 200,000 boys and girls between the ages of 12 and 17, showed that the biggest rise was found among girls.
"This study did not examine all the psychiatric diagnoses and did not include private or ambulatory mental healthcare," said the manager of Maccabi's Medical Informatics Department Dr. Shira Greenfeld.
At the same time, the Social Workers Union's poll showed a rise in mental crises and a heavy load on mental healthcare facilities in Israel, resulting in lengthening waiting times.
According to reports from social workers, there has been a 93% rise in waiting times for mental healthcare since the breakout of the pandemic. Some 45% reported a wait of over a month and 25% reported a wait of more than three months.
This comes alongside a doubling of mental hospitalizations.
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