Magen David Adom has partnered with the Health Ministry to launch a dedicated mental health emergency response unit in central Israel, aimed at addressing a sharp rise in psychological distress calls. Over the past year, calls related to mental health have increased by 45 percent, many tied to ongoing war-related strain, including acute anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Under the new system, mental health-related calls to the national emergency hotline are transferred to specially trained dispatchers. When necessary, a crisis intervention team consisting of a trained paramedic and a mental health nurse, with access to a psychiatrist for consultation, is deployed to provide on-site care.

The initiative follows a pilot program conducted from August to December 2025 in Holon and Tel Aviv. The pilot showed measurable improvements, including a 3 to 5 percent reduction in the use of forced sedation or restraint and fewer unnecessary psychiatric hospitalizations.

Dr. Raphael Strugo, deputy director-general of medicine and blood services at Magen David Adom, said, 'Mental health emergencies are some of the most complex and emotionally charged situations our teams face,' adding that integrating mental health professionals into emergency responses improves the quality of care provided.