Occupied Jerusalem – New data released by the "National Institute for Health Policy Research" point to grim repercussions from the sudden attack launched by Palestinian resistance forces on the Gaza Envelope settlements and southern towns on October 7. The mental and psychological health of Israelis has significantly deteriorated following the conflict with Gaza.
These findings surfaced at a special conference held on the eve of the war's third month. Dr. Ido Luria, the president of the Israeli Society for Mental Health, reviewed data forecasting that up to 625,000 individuals in Israel could suffer psychological harm due to the battle of Al Aqsa Flood and the subsequent war on Gaza.
A preliminary assessment conducted jointly by researchers from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and Columbia University suggests that between 60 to 80 thousand people could develop chronic and persistent mental disabilities due to the shock from the sudden attack and war. Furthermore, up to 550,000 individuals may suffer varying degrees of psychological disorders and crises, according to the Israeli National Council for Trauma and a McKinsey report.
Israel's "Yisrael Hayom" newspaper quoted Dr. Luria saying, "There are no data or studies on how to deal with such psychological and mental aftermath, talking about a massive attack, a unique event in its scale and characteristics. It's an ongoing emergency psychological situation, yet the majority of Israel's population will recover from the trauma."
Rising Numbers
The data indicated a 50% increase in anxiety disorders and a 45% increase in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnoses. There was also a 7% increase in the use of anti-anxiety and anti-depressant medication and an 8.4% increase in the use of sleep medications. Additionally, in the last two months, there was a 25% increase in referrals to mental and psychological health services.
Dr. Shiri Daniels, the professional director of the "Eran" emotional first aid support line, reported a surge in referrals for psychological treatments, noting that 88,000 requests for psychological therapy were recorded since the war began.
There has been an increase in requests from men, including regular soldiers and reservists, with 45% of the calls being from men, compared to the third quarter before the war, according to Dr. Daniels.
A mental health center director in Israel says, "Every person in Israel has their own October 7" (Reuters)
Mental Health System in Crisis
With the trauma spreading among Israelis, the Director-General of the Israeli Health Ministry, Moshe Bar Siman-Tov, spoke at the conference about a plan to expand the mental health system at a cost of 2 billion shekels (550 million dollars), acknowledging its unpreparedness for emergencies.
The website "Zman Yisrael" echoed this through a report titled "The war caused a mental health system crisis," revealing that countless Israelis require mental health care while the public mental health system still lacks thousands of psychiatrists.
Dr. Hadas Sharabani Sidon, a mental health professional, said, "I have been working for 20 hours a day since the start of the war, most of it voluntarily." Dr. Sidon and thousands of psychiatrists shuttle between hospitals and hotels, providing first aid psychological care to survivors, relatives of the deceased, detainees, the injured, and those displaced from their homes due to shelling and combat shocks.
In an interview with "Zman Yisrael," Dr. Sidon said, "People come out of shelters disintegrated and in shock, sitting in a hotel corner in silence." She added, "We work around the clock with staff and volunteers on the emotional first aid hotline."
Dr. Sidon noted that the hotline receives over 3,000 calls daily, compared to 700-800 calls on a regular day and about 1,500 calls daily during the COVID-19 pandemic.
She explained, "Mental health incidents are like ripples that spread out. For every direct injury in the war, there are dozens of indirect injuries. Many victims experience distress retrospectively."
She continued, "Soldiers currently in service will come home with psychological symptoms, and hence, the number of people needing psychological help and treatment will continue to rise after the event ends."
Prolonged Tension
"Every person in Israel has their own October 7," says Professor Gil Salzman, director of the "Giyaha" Mental Health Center in Israel and head of the National Council for Suicide Prevention. Salzman initially thought it was just another security incident that would pass within a few hours but later realized it was an extraordinary event.
Regarding PTSD following the sudden attack and war, Salzman commented, "The event was unexpected, and the numbers for disorders are likely to be high. I'm talking about those who were there, those who faced life-threatening risks, or those who believed they were in danger or witnessed the event."
The professor pointed out that studies from countries that faced similar disasters suggest that between 6% and 11% of the population suffer PTSD, adding, "The situation in Israel is similar or even more severe than the ones studied."
Salzman emphasized, "Every day, new stories unfold in Israel, from widespread mobilization of reservists to evacuating residents from their homes, continuous rocket barrages, and worry over the detained. All of this creates a painful state of prolonged tension."
On top of it all, he mentioned the sense of helplessness after the failure of state systems trusted by the Israeli public, calls for help that went unanswered, missing persons unidentified, feelings of sorrow and confusion—all potential disturbances that could escalate into suicide.
The significant increase in demand for mental health services is also evident amongst soldiers (Al Jazeera)
Declaring an Emergency
To preempt the widening phenomenon of suicide amongst Israelis and amid the unprecedented rise in post-trauma psychological disorders, referrals for psychological therapy, and the near-collapse of the country's mental health system, directors of mental health centers called for a declaration of a state of emergency in mental health in Israel.
The request was formalized in an official letter to the Israeli State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman, stating, "We are witnessing an increase in mental illness rates, suicide cases, and treatment in emergency hospital departments under miserable and inhumane conditions. This situation reflects our total helplessness."
The letter further expressed that directors were unable to provide appropriate treatments and responses to urgent needs and diagnose the overwhelming number of daily approaches, emphasizing the need for urgent action to save the mental health of Israeli citizens.
Directors estimated that in the war's first two months, 300,000 cases of people with varying psychological crises were diagnosed, and hundreds of thousands remain undiagnosed due to the mental health system's inability to serve this great number of individuals. They stressed that combat and war had potential consequences on mental health.
The forum members pointed out that the ground incursion into the Gaza Strip could also impact mental health, stating, "As a result of the fighting in the Gaza Strip, we are already seeing a tens of percent increase in demand for mental health services even among soldiers. The findings are difficult and worrying, witnessing a high level of psychiatric morbidity and suicide cases."
