War's Toll: Israeli Children's Psychiatric ER Visits Up 121% After Three Years

Three years into ongoing conflict, Clalit Health Services has released a comprehensive report based on data from approximately 5 million members, revealing a significant increase in mental health challenges across the population. The report indicates a 121% surge in visits by children and adolescents to psychiatric emergency rooms. Among evacuees from southern Israel, PTSD diagnoses remain six times higher even in the third year of the war. The data also shows a 53.7% rise in unbalanced blood pressure among southern evacuees and a roughly 60% increase in hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol) diagnoses for those evacuated from northern Israel. Furthermore, there has been a nearly 60% increase in nighttime enuresis medications for children from the south.

Clalit also noted a shift in healthcare consumption, with a 13% decrease in in-person appointments and a 36% rise in telephone consultations. This trend was even more pronounced among evacuees from the north and south, who saw a 50% increase in remote consultations. Professor Eitan Wertheimer, CEO of Clalit, stated that the three years of war have exacted a heavy toll, impacting not only soldiers but also the civilian population. He emphasized that the data serves as a roadmap for future healthcare needs and responsibilities.

Dr. Yarden Lewinsky, Director of Mental Health Services at Clalit, highlighted a substantial deterioration in the public's mental state, evidenced by a 28% increase in demand for mental health services and a sharp rise in anxiety and post-traumatic diagnoses. He observed that individuals whose functioning was impaired during the war, with worsened anxiety and depression, are struggling to recover fully. This emotional distress is also reflected in medication consumption, with an increase in ADHD medications nationwide indicating ongoing mental strain. For children, particularly those from the south, trauma manifests physically, leading to a 47.8% jump in the use of medications for nocturnal enuresis. Dr. Lewinsky concluded that these findings underscore the need for ongoing therapeutic interventions and continuous medical care in the community for years to come.