An update on mental health services in the West Bank

Abstract

The continuing development of the mental health services provided in the West Bank over the last fifty years is described. The hospital in Bethlehem was supplemented by the first community clinic in 1974, followed by clinics opening up in all 10 regions of the West Bank. The first Intifada brought actions from many international non-governmental organizations (NGOs). From 1993 the Palestine Authority's Ministry of Health has organized services, although the main addition initially was school counsellors from the Education Ministry. The second Intifada brought a further flurry of disorganized and well-intentioned interventions. A proposal for the reorganization of services from 2004 is in the course of implementation and should influence the training of personnel and structure of services.