Researchers: Ephraim Shapiro¹, Irit Elroy², Liat Korn¹, Gil Zukerman¹

Background: The most traditionally religious segments of Israeli society, including both Jews and Muslims, have distinctive cultural attitudes and behaviors that can impact health. Community members may be reluctant to seek mental health services because of factors such as stigma or lack of knowledge yet there is also potential for innovative interventions among them. However, prior research on this topic has been very limited.

Research Questions: To what extent do Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) Jews and religious Muslims in Israel need, seek and/or receive mental health care?
Do results vary by key subgroups, including religion and extent of religiosity?
What interventions can potentially be developed to increase use of needed mental health services among these groups?

Methodology: This study was mixed methods. A national random-sample Brookdale Institute survey in Israel was analyzed, including 274 Haredi Jews and 208 traditionally religious Muslims. Outcome measures included behaviors and attitudes related to mental health care use. Univariate, and bivariate analyses were performed for these measures by religion/religiosity. In the second stage, 25 in-depth interviews with religious, community, and medical leaders for populations of Haredi and religious Muslims were conducted and analyzed.

Findings: A large number of barriers to appropriate utilization of mental health services were identified, grouped into four categories: stigma, lack of knowledge, financial issues, and access to care.
There were many parallels between Jews and Moslems but some important differences.

Conclusions: The most traditionally religious Israelis, both Jews and Moslems, present special challenges as well as opportunities to receiving appropriate mental health care when needed, because of distinctive social, psychological, and religious characteristics. Opportunities for interventions were suggested by these findings.

Policy Implications/Recommendations: This study can help policymakers leverage the important role that religion plays in many Israeli lives, and useful initiatives can be developed. In particular, increased resources for education of both the Haredi and Muslim religious and health care communities would be beneficial. Programs should be appropriately adapted for each community.

Research end date: 08/2018