Families in distress: "How long can you hold on to a person who doesn't want to live?"

An article about families coping with the suicidality of their loved ones, including personal stories of family members living in constant fear, alongside the presentation of the "Rishut" therapeutic model of Meuhedet Health Fund, which provides families with tools to identify distress and take action in time.

An extensive article about the daily struggle of families in which one member experiences suicidality. The article features two main personal stories: A., who recalls the moment she learned her mother had swallowed pills and was rushed to the emergency room, after her mental state deteriorated following a complex surgery and the October 7 war. The family divided shifts so the mother would not be left alone, but a second suicide attempt occurred. The mother was then referred to treatment within the "Rishut" model of Meuhedet Health Fund, in which all family members participated in therapeutic sessions. The second story is of S., whose husband suffered a blow to his status at work, withdrew into himself, and during the war began expressing a desire to end his life. Her family also participated in "Rishut" sessions. The article quotes Yanai Zamir, a psychotherapist and director of the Suicidality Treatment Unit at Meuhedet, and Tal Levana, a supervising clinical psychologist, who explain the model and the importance of family support alongside professional treatment. Data from the Ministry of Health report on causes of death in Israel are presented, according to which in 2022 suicide was the second most common cause of death among young people aged 15-24.