Guidance

Mental health support for British nationals in Israel

Updated 23 May 2023

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/israel-mental-health-abroad/mental-health-support-for-british-nationals-in-israel

The information contained in this note is intended for your general guidance only, it is not a substitute for obtaining your own medical and legal advice. While all due care has been taken in compiling this information, accuracy cannot be guaranteed and the applicable law and procedures may occasionally change. For these reasons neither His Majesty’s Government nor any member of the British Consular staff can accept liability for any costs, damages or expenses which might be incurred.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office holds and uses data for purposes notified to the Information Commissioner under the Data Protection Act 1998. Such personal data may be disclosed to other UK Government Departments and public authorities.

1. FCDO consular support

Whenever possible we will seek your permission before taking any action on your behalf.

We can:

  • listen to you and help you look at your options
  • help you to contact friends and family members if you want to
  • visit you in hospital or prison in line with our usual procedures
  • raise any concerns about your treatment or welfare with the responsible authority (such as a hospital or prison)
  • help overseas medical staff contact medical staff in the UK who may be able to provide advice on your medical history
  • give information about local medication suppliers
  • be available, as appropriate, to offer you assistance if you choose to remain overseas
  • liaise with your travel rep or travel insurance company, if you want us to

We cannot:

  • give advice on mental health issues
  • buy or supply medication
  • withhold or remove a passport
  • stop you from travelling abroad or require you to return to the UK
  • pay for you to return to the UK; pay for food, accommodation or medical bills
  • get you better treatment in hospital or prison than is given to local people

2. What to do if you need help

If there is an emergency or an urgent need for medical attention, you should either:

  • call 101 for emergency services (MDA), or call 100 for the police, or
  • go to the emergency ward at any hospital

List of medical facilities in Israel

For less urgent requirements, the first option, as in the UK, is to make an appointment with a general physician (GP). A GP will make a first assessment, is able provide basic support and signpost you elsewhere if necessary, or assist you in going to hospital.

3. Healthcare in Israel

Medical insurance in Israel is compulsory. Every permanent resident (citizen or non-citizen) is entitled to basic healthcare and cannot opt-out. The National Health Insurance Law mandates all citizens residing in Israel must join one of four official health insurance organizations, the HMO of Israel, known as Kupat Holim.

You can find GP doctors in Israel through the HMO websites:

If you are not registered with one of the HMOs, you are still able to go to one of the private GPs by contacting one of the private hospitals:

List of medical facilities in Israel

4. Repeat or replacement prescriptions

If you are on holiday in Israel, or have moved to Israel and require a repeat or replacement prescription, you should contact a local pharmacy who will be able to provide advice, and will normally be able to provide you with a list of local GPs.

Carrying a copy of your prescription while on holiday, or after your move to Israel, can help doctors to find the exact, or similar medication for you.

5. Voluntarily hospitalisation

If you experience Mental Health illness you are entitled to voluntarily hospitalise yourself in one of the psychiatric facilities in Israel.

During the hospitalisation, You will be asked for your consent for each procedure that is needed. Should you want to be discharged, you will be released from hospital within 48 hours from the request unless the district psychiatrist instructed differently.

The voluntarily hospitalisation is in open wards or in open Day clinics.

6. Compulsory hospitalisation

As in the UK, people with mental health needs may be hospitalised and detained without having given their consent if they are deemed to be a danger to themselves or others. In Israel this is called “Ishpuz Kafuy”; this is comparable to the UK’s “Sectioning” procedure.

Parties in Israel who are authorised to order an involuntary hospitalisation:

  1. The District Psychiatrist
  2. The Director of a psychiatric hospital
  3. Court

The District Psychiatrist is authorized to issue an involuntary hospitalisation order if each and every one of the following conditions is fulfilled:

  • the person is in a psychotic state, and
  • as a result of the psychotic state, there is a danger to the person himself (suicidal) or to those around him (assault), on an immediate basis, and
  • the person refused to be examined/be hospitalized voluntarily

Hospitalisation orders are issued for seven (7) days and can get extended to up to 14 days. In the event that the hospital staff are of the opinion that the person must be hospitalized for more than 14 days, staff must apply for a further extension to the District Psychiatric Committee which is composed of two psychiatrists and a legal expert), and which is authorized to approve or reject the application.

An appeal against the decision of the District Psychiatrist to involuntarily hospitalisation can be lodged with the District Psychiatric Committee,

It is important to note that any person who is involuntarily hospitalised or who receives involuntary treatment is entitled to legal representation by the State.

When a person arrives for involuntary hospitalisation, the hospital must offer him the right to legal representation. View the forms in the Treatment of the Mentally Ill Regulations Legal Representation in Involuntary Treatment, 2006.

The Director of a psychiatric hospital, or the head of a psychiatry department in a general hospital, has the authority to involuntarily hospitalize a person for up to 48 hours under the following conditions:

  1. The person is in a psychotic state, and
  2. As a result of the psychotic state, there is a danger to the person himself (suicidal) or to those around him (assault), and
  3. The person refused to be voluntarily hospitalized, and
  4. The person is located in the hospital (e.g. when a person came for an examination, or he is already hospitalized voluntarily and wishes to be released and the staff believe that hospitalisation is required due to the above conditions).

If, during the 48 hours after the issue of order, the hospital staff believe that continued hospitalisation is required and the person refuses hospitalisation, the hospital can apply to the District Psychiatrist requesting the issue of an involuntary hospitalisation order.

When a person is defined as a suspect for having committed an offence, or he is under arrest by the police, or an indictment has been served against him, he can claim that it is his mental state that brought him to his actions, or that his current mental state does not permit him the proper conduct of a trial.

In this situation, the person or his lawyer can apply to the judge requesting the issue of an involuntary psychiatric examination order, or an involuntary observation under hospitalisation order. Also, the police can, in case of a suspect or arrested person, apply to court with a similar request. In case of an indictment, the court can also, of its own volition, order a psychiatric examination or psychiatric observation.

A judge can issue an order for involuntary psychiatric examination or observation under hospitalisation, with the aim of assessing the person’s condition. The observation is usually carried out in a psychiatric hospital. The duration of observation under hospitalisation can take between three (3) days and three (3) weeks.

7. Rights of a psychiatrically hospitalised person

At times, your medical condition may require treatment in the framework of hospitalisation of one type or another. On admission to hospital, the hospital must provide you and your family with an explanation of your rights and obligations as a person who is hospitalized or receiving treatment. The hospital should provide written information sheets (guide), in which you will be able to find explanations about the laws and rules that apply in the hospital, the possibility for contact with the family, visits, storage of belongings, the use of personal clothing or items and the bringing of food from home, although this is not mandatory. If there is no such written guide, the details can be clarified from members of the treating staff.

You are entitled to receive information about your illness, the treatment required and the possibility to choose between treatments, the conditions under which the treatment will be given, the risks involved in the treatment, the expected recovery process, the duration of your stay in hospital or the duration of the recommended treatment in various frameworks in the community or during hospitalisation, being subject to the treating clinician’s medical and professional judgment.

You will also receive information about other financial requirements that may be involved in your treatment.

Any treatment requires your consent, with the exception of involuntary treatment, subject to the limitations specified in the Treatment of the Mentally Ill Law, 1991.

8. Costs of hospitalisation

If you are registered with one of the HMOs (Kupot Holim), payment will be arranged by the HMO. If you are not registered, you will need to cover any costs using your private insurance, or by personal funds if you do not have travel insurance.

9. Guardianship

Guardianship is a court appointment which authorises a person to act and make decisions on behalf of another adult who it is believed lacks the capacity to make certain decisions for themselves.

  • a request for guardianship may be submitted by a spouse, parent, or other family member, as well as by the government legal advisor or his/her representative
  • a written request must be submitted to the Family Courts in whose jurisdiction the ward is located
  • for Muslims, the request is submitted to a Sharia court

Read process of appointing a Guardian.

10. Return to the UK

Once the medical team at the hospital have agreed that the patient can be released, they may issue a fit to fly letter indicating whether the patient requires a medical escort or can travel by him/herself. The medical team will also provide a medical report to show to a doctor on arrival in the UK.

The repatriation can be organised by road or air travel through a medical repatriation company. If the patient needs to be hospitalised in the UK, the transfer will be to their local hospital or institution.

The cost of any repatriation will be covered by travel insurance, or by personal funds of the patient if there is no travel insurance.

11. Medical escorts

In some cases, the hospital doctors and/or psychiatrist committee will release a patient to return to the UK only provided that a medical escort is arranged to travel with the patient. This may involve one, or sometimes two medically trained staff to accompany the patient.

12. List of medical escort providers in Israel:

Name of provider Telephone Website
Dr. Sagiv Moran - Drugs and mental health affected rescue +972-(0)52-6462802 https://dr-sagiv.co.il/
IES Medical +972-(0)50-5212464 http://www.ies-medical.com/
Magnus International Search and Rescue +972-(0)3-8006808 https://www.magnus.co.il/
MedAssis - Worldwide Medical Assistance +972-(0)3-6440669 https://en.medassis.org/

12.1 Support from other agencies and organisations in Israel

Organisation Telephone/email Website
Ministry of Health *5400, +972-(0)8-6241010 https://www.gov.il/en/departments/ministry_of_health
Mental Health Portal   https://www.mh-israel,co.il
The Israeli Association of Psychotherapy +972-(0)3-7369051 https://www.israpsych.org/
Get Help Israel - The Israeli Association of Mental Health Professionals   https://gethelpisrael.com/
Enosh - The Israeli Association for Mental Health +972-(0)74-7556103 https://www.enosh.org.il/en/english/
Sahar - Assistance and listening on-line sahar.help@gmail.com https://sahar.org.il/
Eran - Mental Health First Aid 1201; +972-(0)76-8844400 https://www.eran.org.il/
KeepOlim - Mental Health Division - Support for Olim (new citizens) info@keepolim.org https://keepolim.org/index.php/en/programs/current-programs/keepolims-mental-health-division.html
Ezer Mitsion - the Mental Health Division +972-(0)73-3952222 https://www.ami.org.il/mental-health/

13. Other useful information

Know your rights in Israel.

Travel Advice for people with mental health issues. (Includes links to UK NGOs/services).

14. UK organisations

The NHS list of mental health helplines has a list of organisations that can offer advice to those in the UK by phone. These organisations in the UK may be able to help you before you travel, or support family and friends in the UK.

See medical repatriation companies in the UK.

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