The staff utilize a number of psychiatric scales, including the Rutter Scale, Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, Depression Rating Scale, Gaza Traumatic Events Checklist, Gaza Trauma Checklist for Victims of Human Rights Violations, and the Impact of Event Scale. In 1998 and 1999, a total of 1,943 new cases were treated. The number of victims of human rights violations treated during this period was 1,124, including 591 men and 533 women. Statistics indicate that Israel has imprisoned over 800,000 Palestinians since 1967. In many cases the patient expects results within a relatively short period of time.
Special projects exist dealing with every target group.
Specialized multi-disciplinary committees are formed to implement the plans and carry out clinical and community activities. Short-term therapy techniques are applied at the clinics and in clients' homes by all staff members. Preventive work that raises general awareness of health and human rights also decreases the stigma attached to mental health care and helps to change misconceptions about mental illness. The short courses were developed into a longer specialized education, namely a two-year postgraduate diploma in community mental health. The curriculum and teaching in this project are planned and implemented in cooperation with seven international universities.