{"id":211539,"date":"2025-06-24T22:42:17","date_gmt":"2025-06-24T22:42:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/211539\/"},"modified":"2025-06-24T22:42:17","modified_gmt":"2025-06-24T22:42:17","slug":"can-tech-solve-israels-escalating-mental-health-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/211539\/","title":{"rendered":"Can tech solve Israel\u2019s escalating mental health crisis?"},"content":{"rendered":"

As Israel grapples with the psychological strain of compounded conflict, first following the October 7 Hamas attacks, and more recently with the confrontation against Iran in the wake of Operation Rising Lion, mental health resources are being stretched to their limits. Even amid the newly announced ceasefire, which is meant to offer a halt to hostilities for now, the emotional aftermath across the nation is far from resolved.<\/p>\n

Systemic challenges like clinician shortages, access disparities, and a lingering stigma around traditional therapy stand in contrast to a growing, urgent national need for support. According to McKinsey<\/a>, the total burden from mental health conditions in 2025 is estimated at 183 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). At the same time, \u201cemerging therapeutic options such as digital therapies are gaining recognition for their accessibility and effectiveness, particularly in low-resource settings.\u201d<\/p>\n

2 View gallery <\/p>\n

\"Ifat<\/a>\"Ifat<\/p>\n

Roy Cohen (Behavidence), Adi Wallach (Calmigo), Ifat Morad (NATAL) <\/p>\n

(Credit: Kenny Kim, Raya Cottre, NATAL)<\/p>\n

Indeed, global online behavior reflects growing openness to and traction for such digital therapies. As highlighted by Harvard Business Review<\/a>, therapy has become the leading use case for generative AI in 2025.<\/p>\n

In Israel, a multitude of platforms are already operating in this space. These include AI-based services such as Kai.ai, physiological approaches from Calmigo, passive sensing technologies by Behavidence, and the digitally scaled trauma response of NATAL, Israel\u2019s Trauma and Resiliency Centre.<\/p>\n

While the current situation unfolds against the uncertainty of a ceasefire and atop over a year and a half of sustained conflict, it raises the question of whether this juncture will mark an inflection point for tech-enabled mental health care in Israel, and whether these tools will gain the trust, investment and institutional support to play a more central role.<\/p>\n

Cracks in the system reveal a growing need for alternatives<\/p>\n

In recent years, Israel\u2019s mental health system has faced mounting pressure, with the current situation exposing the full extent of its strain. <\/p>\n

\u201cSince October 7, we have seen an increase of 300% in people consuming psychiatric drugs in Israel,\u201d said Adi Wallach, CEO and Co-Founder of Calmigo. \u201cAnd the estimation right now is that there are 3 million people who are suffering from trauma.\u201d<\/p>\n

Organizations like NATAL, founded in 1998, have had to rapidly expand in response to escalating demand. In the earliest hours of October 7, it was the only helpline broadcast on Israeli television. It has also been instrumental in developing new, condensed treatment protocols adopted by both the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Defense. <\/p>\n

\u201cBefore October 7, NATAL had about 100 therapists,\u201d said Ifat Morad, Director of International Relations, Partnerships and Resource Development. \u201cNow we have more than 600 therapists all over Israel.\u201d In tandem, the organization has launched a new app, expanded services via WhatsApp and Zoom, and integrated an AI bot to triage helpline calls. \u201cWe had about 400 people getting therapy one on one on a weekly basis. Now we have more than 3,000 on a weekly basis and counting,\u201d she continued.<\/p>\n

Mental health crises in Israel are often marked by waves of people turning to NATAL\u2019s services. Speaking to the present national climate, Morad observed: \u201cwe are now in what we call rolling trauma. The trauma didn\u2019t just finish. It\u2019s rolling as we speak. We\u2019re in it, all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Startups step in with tech-driven mental health solutions<\/p>\n

While traditional mental health services in Israel have worked to leverage digitization to expand their reach, several startups are aiming to address the growing mental health crisis with tech-first or hybrid solutions.<\/p>\n

Kai.ai, a hybrid mental health platform combining human clinicians with conversation-based AI, has reached over 200,000 people in need. Initially launched in English, the service expanded to Ukrainian and Russian during the Ukraine war, and to Hebrew following October 7. In partnership with the humanitarian organization The Joint, Kai began offering free support to reservists, students, and civilians \u2013 a move it has continued amid the Israel-Iran conflict, now providing a full month of subsidized support to anyone impacted. The offer remains in place, notwithstanding the ceasefire.<\/p>\n

For CEO Alex Frenkel, the AI component is central to the platform\u2019s mission \u201cbecause the AI is accessible 24\/7.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

2 View gallery <\/p>\n

\"Orly<\/a>\"Orly<\/p>\n

Alex Frenkel (Kai.ai) and Orly Zohar (NATAL) <\/p>\n

(Credit: Omer Hacohen, NATAL)<\/p>\n

Calmigo, meanwhile, takes a physiological approach, offering a handheld device that activates the parasympathetic nervous system to deliver both immediate relief and long-term support. \u201cYou can think about the device as a remote control to your nervous system,\u201d explained Wallach, who noted that Calmigo is one of the only non-medicated solutions providing fast-acting relief alongside sustained therapeutic benefits. \u201cIt\u2019s as easy to use and as effective as a pill, but does not require a prescriber, and at a fraction of the cost as well.\u201d Following October 7, the company donated 1,300 units to hostage families, soldiers, and traumatized children.<\/p>\n

Behavidence was founded to bridge the gap in early diagnostics and intervention. \u201cWe detect mental health disorders or dynamics based on how you use your phone,\u201d said Co-Founder Roy Cohen. \u201cJust by passively sensing your patterns of behavior.\u201d<\/p>\n

The passive approach, he explained, is key to long-term user retention. \u201cWe chose passive sensing because whenever we ask the user to do something, the chances of them staying with us a week later is gone.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the wake of October 7, the company also made its product freely available to support those affected. It is now working with HMOs and the Ministry of Defense to monitor PTSD symptoms in reservists.<\/p>\n

For Cohen, the fundamental inefficiency in how care is delivered is a costly blind spot: \u201cTreating early is cheap. But now the systems are designed to treat only when the symptoms are severe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Users are driving the shift in digital adoption<\/p>\n

With such tech-driven support in circulation, those on the ground are observing a shift in how Israelis are engaging with mental health support. While institutional inertia may be slowing adoption, some founders believe that change may ultimately be driven by users themselves.<\/p>\n

Cohen insists that most people seeking support are willing to explore any solution available. \u201cThey\u2019re willing to try everything\u2026 and then decide whether they like it or not.\u201d<\/p>\n

Similarly (and in line with findings from the Harvard Business Review) Frenkel noted that the current crisis appears to be lowering the psychological barrier to entry, with signs of a user-led shift toward increased uptake of digital therapy.<\/p>\n

\u201cSomething that is interesting, in my mind, is what people are actually using AI for. You will see that the number one use is self-therapy,\u201d he stated. \u201cI don’t think clinicians can ignore the fact that their patients are already trying to use AI.\u201d<\/p>\n

From his observation at Kai, \u201cWe definitely see more and more people using the AI because there’s less stigma, less worry of being judged, less shame. So we see usage rising all the time. This is something that we see clearly,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n

Still, even as patients lean in, some institutions remain wary of the implications. Cohen pointed to a systemic reluctance to uncover the true scale of need: \u201cMost of the HMOs or the [third-party] payers are scared of what happens if now we discover half a million more patients with depression,\u201d said Cohen. \u201cIt\u2019s almost like saying, let\u2019s not test for COVID, because we don\u2019t have vaccinations.\u201d<\/p>\n

This institutional hesitation, he added, isn\u2019t unique to Israel. \u201cWe’ve seen it in the US, UK and in Israel.\u201d<\/p>\n

Still, he believes the momentum is shifting, and that legacy systems will eventually have to evolve to keep up. \u201cWe\u2019ve got the turning point,\u201d he stated. \u201cPatients are starting to try a lot of different solutions\u2026 it\u2019s either the health authorities will lead it or the patients will lead it\u2026 and now we\u2019re starting to see that the patients are leading it, which is brilliant.\u201d<\/p>\n

Not a replacement but the only viable path forward?<\/p>\n

Systemic hesitation or not, the founders argue that a broader embrace of the full capacities of HealthTech is the only realistic path to scaling mental health support at the pace Israel now requires. Frenkel argues that it can extend the reach of clinicians, with AI in particular serving as a vital resource for triage and immediate response.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are not enough clinicians, and the wait lists are getting longer and longer,\u201d he said. \u201cTechnology can help. It can help with screening. It can help with immediate response. It’s very, very significant. It should play a larger role than currently having.\u201d<\/p>\n

From Wallach\u2019s point of view, \u201cWhat technology is doing and should do is to make mental health accessible to all, accessible and affordable for everyone.\u201d She added, \u201cthe other thing that technology is doing very well is personalization.\u201d<\/p>\n

That being said, when it comes to the role technology should play in Israel\u2019s mental health response, each platform presents itself not as a replacement for therapy, but as a way to bolster existing care.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe really believe in this hybrid model where the clinician has the experience and can adjust the AI,\u201d said Frenkel. \u201cThe combination is very, very powerful.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cohen also pushed back against any assumption that AI can (or should) replace therapists: \u201cStill, people find it a bit hard to talk about their emotions with a chatbot and get the same levels of assistance that they would get from a human being.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wallach agreed. Based on her findings, she stated: \u201cCompanies who try to totally replace the human factor did not succeed… The magic happens when you provide solutions that can stand alone, but also can work together with other methodologies when it\u2019s needed.\u201d<\/p>\n

For NATAL, while digital capabilities may support wider access, they are not seen as a substitute for human care, or the therapist\u2019s role. \u201cHuman touch is extremely important for the healing process,\u201d stressed Orly Zohar, NATAL Professional Manager, Clinical Psychologist, and Supervisor.<\/p>\n

In Morad\u2019s words: \u201cIt\u2019s going to be a complementary service to help the therapist to reach many people faster. That\u2019s the target. Not a replacement.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"As Israel grapples with the psychological strain of compounded conflict, first following the October 7 Hamas attacks, and…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":211540,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4317],"tags":[105,218,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-211539","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-mental-health","8":"tag-health","9":"tag-mental-health","10":"tag-uk","11":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114740759522447260","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/211539","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=211539"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/211539\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/211540"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=211539"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=211539"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=211539"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}