Depressive Symptoms and Utilization of Mental Health Services among Older Israelis Across Population Groups

This study aimed to assess the prevalence of clinically significant depressive symptoms; utilization of mental health services and associated socioeconomic and clinical factors in three main population groups of older adults in Israel. We used data collected by the Survey on Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). Our study included data from 3,517 participants (54% female, mean age 64 years), identified as belonging to three population groups living in Israel: Israeli-born and early-immigrant Jews (those born in Israel or immigrated before 1989), Israeli Arabs, and more recent immigrants from the Former Soviet Union (FSU). We applied logistic regression to estimate the association of socioeconomic and clinical characteristics with clinically significant depressive symptoms (4 and more points on the EURO-D scale) and the utilization of mental health services in each population group. The prevalence of clinically significant depressive symptoms was highest amongst FSU immigrants (44%), followed by Israeli Arabs (32%), and the lowest amongst Israeli-born and early-immigrant Jews (30%). Greater levels of self-reported disability and a higher number of chronic diseases were associated with clinically significant depressive symptoms in all three population groups. Utilization of mental health services was the least common in Israeli Arabs (17%) and was related only to physical inactivity, followed by FSU immigrants (36%), where it was associated with female sex, disability, and chronic diseases. Mental health services were utilized the most by Israeli-born and early-immigrant Jews (41%), and was associated with disability, chronic diseases, and working status. Based on these findings, we conclude that taking into account ethnic disparities in the burden of depressive symptoms and the rate of mental health services utilization among older Israelis is essential to tailor better prevention and treatment strategies.