Jerusalem - Post Report Question and Answers
Are there any particular mental health issues that tend to crop up at post, such as Seasonal Affective Disorder (winter blues)?
There are a lack of English-speaking therapists and psychologists in Israel, despite the overwhelming number of English-speaking immigrants here. There is usually a wait list to be seen, and many say that they are not seeing new patients. Native Hebrew-speaking therapists may think they can conduct therapy sessions in English and it may or may not work out. This is especially true for teens. As a result, the psychiatric hospital close to Jerusalem, Eitanim, has an excess of English speakers as they have trouble getting help outside of a hospital setting. SAD is definitely not a thing anywhere in NEA. - Nov 2022
This is a really, really stressful place to live and that can cause or exacerbate mental health issues. Be gentle with yourself, take your R&Rs, and get out of Jerusalem as much as needed -- even Tel Aviv or the North can be a welcome break (women in shorts! food on Shabbat! Mixed seating in synagogues! It all feels very radical after too long in Jerusalem...). - Oct 2019
Lots of sun here! It just seems a little stressful at times due to the political tension and the honking gets on everyone's nerves. - Aug 2018
No, the weather is beautiful. The security environment and the amount of hatred on both sides might cause some anxiety and stress, but it is what you would expect and expats are not that personally involved. - Apr 2018
- Dec 2016
