Nearly One Million Calls for Help Received by ERAN in Three Years of War
Translated & summarized from Arutz Sheva by baba
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- ERAN received 928,911 calls for mental health support in three years of war.
- Loneliness increased significantly, reaching 41% of general population calls in the third year.
- Suicidal content among youth nearly doubled, from 2.6% to 4.4% of their calls.
- 21,829 calls in total involved suicidal thoughts, intentions, or actions.
- Soldiers' calls about violence and sexual assault peaked at 10% in the second year.
In the three years since the outbreak of the "Swords of Iron" war, the mental health support organization ERAN (Emotional First Aid) has received nearly one million calls for assistance, totaling 928,911. The data reveals a significant rise in feelings of loneliness across the general population and a near doubling of suicidal content among young people.
During this period, 21,829 calls specifically involved suicidal thoughts, intentions, or actions. Loneliness, as a primary concern, increased from 28% of general population calls in the first year of the war to 41% by the third year. Despite a slight decrease in overall calls in the third year (291,911 compared to over 316,000 in the first year), the volume remained high.
ERAN's support network, staffed by 1,850 volunteers and a professional team, handled the majority of calls through its helplines (774,604) and online services like chat, WhatsApp, and email (154,307).
Among youth and teenagers, the rate of calls containing suicidal content nearly doubled from 2.6% in the first year to 4.4% in the third. While this rate is concerning, ERAN notes it remains slightly lower than the pre-war average of approximately 3%.
Calls from soldiers also showed trends, with 5% of their calls in the first year concerning violence and sexual assault, rising to 10% in the second year, and settling at 8% in the third.
David Koren, CEO of ERAN, described the situation as a "difficult and ongoing reality," emphasizing the organization's commitment to providing a safe space for individuals dealing with pain, loss, anxiety, loneliness, and burnout. Dr. Shiri Daniels, ERAN's National Professional Director, stressed the importance of recognizing distress even when life appears normal, urging direct questions about suicidal ideation when concerns arise.
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