Israeli Health Report Reveals Long-Term National Toll of Three Years of War

A comprehensive report by Clalit Health Services, analyzing data from approximately 5 million members, details the cumulative national health damage sustained over three years of war, from October 2023 to September 2026. The study contrasts this period with the two years preceding the conflict, highlighting significant impacts on mental health, children and adolescents, and residents displaced from the southern and northern regions.

Mental health emerged as a primary challenge, with a notable surge in diagnoses related to anxiety and stress following the October 7th attacks. Clalit has expanded community services but emphasizes the need for substantial increases in professional staff, including psychiatrists and psychologists, along with dedicated treatment facilities, to address the national scope of distress. Proactive identification and intervention for at-risk populations, particularly children and youth exhibiting worsening distress indicators, are crucial to prevent chronic mental health issues.

Children and adolescents, especially those displaced from the south, show physiological manifestations of distress. The report notes a 47.8% increase in the prescription of Minirin for nocturnal enuresis among these children in the third year of war compared to the baseline period. Increased use of ADHD medication nationwide is also linked to ongoing mental load. The trauma and anxiety experienced by children are manifesting physically, underscoring the need for ongoing therapeutic support and continuity of care.

Displaced populations from the south and north also experienced significant health impacts beyond mental health, including chronic and metabolic conditions. Southern evacuees saw a sustained worsening of blood pressure imbalance, ranging from 30% to 53.7%, and a 53.7% increase in diabetes imbalance compared to a 2.5% rise in the general population. New diagnoses of cholesterol and blood fat issues rose by about 20% overall, but by approximately 60% among northern evacuees. Despite these challenges, continuous medical team engagement through temporary clinics and remote services appears to have mitigated worse outcomes and supported recovery.

The healthcare system adapted, with a decrease of about 13% in face-to-face primary care visits and a 36% increase in telephone consultations nationwide. This shift was even more pronounced among evacuees, with a nearly 50% rise in remote consultations, demonstrating the vital role of telehealth in maintaining care continuity during disruptions. While overall emergency room visits for children decreased by 8.7%, partly due to fewer extracurricular activities and parental hesitancy to seek immediate care for some symptoms, mental health-related ER visits for children and adolescents saw a significant increase.