Number of finance-driven suicide threats rises amid COVID-19 outbreak

Top collection officer says working to better identify and handle cases of suicidal nature; Health Ministry secures NIS 9.5 million in funds to bolster suicide hotlines
Gad Lior|
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Since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in March, Israel has seen a spike in the number of suicide threats made by individuals who have run into severe economic tribulations due to the COVID-19-induced nationwide economic crisis, a Justice Ministry official said on Tuesday.
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  • During a meeting of Knesset’s Labor, Welfare and Health Committee, the Justice Ministry's Enforcement and Collection Authority Chairman Tomer Moskowitz revealed that between January and October 2020, Israel had documented 168 cases of individuals who threatened to take their own lives due to financial struggles.
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    דיכאון אילוס אילוסטרציה
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    For comparison, that number stood at 129 and 136 in 2018 and 2019, respectively.
    Moskowitz also said that he asked to provide workers training to better handle such cases.
    "We asked for training for all our workers who come into contact with debtors. From the security guard at the entrance to our receptionists, public inquiries representatives and more. All in order to allow them to identify and handle cases of a suicidal nature,” Moskowitz said. “This won't turn them into psychologists or therapists, but it will give them the tools to handle those critical seconds in front of the debtor."
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    chairman of the Enforcement and Collection Authority, Tomer Moskowitz
    chairman of the Enforcement and Collection Authority, Tomer Moskowitz
    Enforcement and Collection Authority Chairman Tomer Moskowitz
    Dr. Shiri Daniel, Professional Director at Eran - a voluntary organization that provides psychological support services - also reported an increase in the number of incoming calls due to financial distress.
    "Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have responded to more than 268,000 calls, compared to a total of 200,000 calls throughout the entirety of 2019,” Daniel said.
    “We activate an emergency procedure to save lives three times a day. About 60% of those who contact us are facing a financial and employment crisis combined with a mental crisis."
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    Knesset Labor, Welfare and Health Committee Acting Chairman MK Tali Ploskov said that "the issue is always important, and now in the time of the coronavirus it's even more relevant. According to data, the number of suicides per year is declining but it is impossible to know what will happen tomorrow. It should constantly be on our minds.”
    Director of Government Relations and National Programs at the Health Ministry Miri Cohen said that her department has secured funds to the tune of NIS 9.5 million to bolster personnel and training at suicide hotlines.
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    1.
    Suicide needs better than Eran
    As a former counselor (not in this country) working for years on a crisis line including suicide prevention, I tested Eran out to see if I would work with the and the answer is a flat no. I presented as a depressed, suicidal person on quite a few occasions and found every single counsellor - mostly older women - had not a clue how to talk a potential suicide down. All they did was tell the caller (me) that they should go to the emergency room or to their doctor. Sorry, but most suicidal people have seen doctors and psychiatry in the medical provider system is a long, long wait for far too few available slots and prefer to speak to strangers for the sake of anonymity. Not one had any clear training on dealing with depression, counselling skills were primarily so basic as to be pretty useless. If investment is to be made to deal with the crisis many are now in, it starts with proper training by professionals. And counsellors who offer their services voluntarily shouldn't have to pay for Eran's clearly inadequate courses. Advice to those who encounter depressed people or those threatening suicide. Always take it seriously. Without a better helpline, urge that person to try to get professional help as soon as possible. A national campaign to recognize the signs should be conducted publicly.
    Eran - forget it| 11.24.20
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