Frequency of Mental Illness Among Jews in Israel

Abstract

This is mainly a statistical survey of mental illness in Israel and there was no intention for a medical analysis of the data. The statistical data may and should serve as a basis for a medical interpretation. Demographic and social conditions prevailing in Israel are particularly suitable for a thorough investigation of mental health problems in its heterogeneous and changing population. Statistical techniques and epidemiological methods found their application in most branches of medicine. In our case their full use will depend on the reaction of the psychiatric profession to the statistical survey and on their efforts to integrate the figures in a clinical effort in order to make the epidemiological conclusions a basis for therapeutical progress. Some time ago a leading medical weekly remarked in connection with psychiatric epidemiology(22): “Another problem has been the distressing way in which the results of years of work melt away before the two crucial words ‘so what?’.” Exploitation of all possibilities for research by a proper team may help greatly in understanding dynamics of mental health.