Post-War Reality: 63% of Israeli War Wounded Suffer Mental Trauma

Three years after the outbreak of war, Israel's Ministry of Defense Rehabilitation Department is grappling with a surge in casualties, particularly those with psychological injuries. Since October 7th, the department has absorbed approximately 30,000 wounded from the IDF and security forces. Strikingly, 63% of these individuals are dealing with mental health issues, while only 37% have sustained physical injuries. This shift has fundamentally altered the department's operations, leading to a threefold increase in mental health professionals to around 2,300 and allocating over 60% of the budget to those with mental health and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) conditions. The overall budget has expanded by 88% in three years to approximately 10 billion shekels.

Projections indicate a continued rise, with the department expected to manage around 100,000 wounded by 2028, nearly half of whom will require mental health support. Currently, the department assists 91,200 individuals injured during their service over the years, with about 42,500 experiencing mental health challenges and PTSD. A significant portion, 47%, of the war wounded are 30 years old or younger, and 62% are reservists. Women constitute 8% of the wounded.

Beyond psychological trauma, hundreds have suffered life-altering physical injuries. Sixty-three war wounded have been classified with 100% disability, 249 have complex head injuries, 29 have permanent vision loss or impairment, and 106 have lost limbs. The Ministry of Defense reports that 95% of amputees have been fitted with prosthetics, some enabling athletic activity.

To address the escalating mental health crisis, new support systems have been established, including emergency response teams that have responded to over 500 critical incidents since January 2024. Alternative care options like "safe houses" and "balancing houses" in the community, therapeutic farms, and technological PTSD treatments have been implemented. This year alone, approximately 171,000 alternative therapies were utilized, and a mental health hotline received about 16,500 calls.

The use of assistance dogs has also seen significant growth, with 470 dogs currently supporting individuals with mental health conditions and another 330 in training. The ministry is also facilitating reintegration through education, with 2,425 wounded individuals receiving full funding for academic and vocational studies. Law, business administration, and computer science are the most sought-after fields of study.

Structurally, the Rehabilitation Department is being transformed into the "National Authority for Rehabilitation and Treatment of IDF and Security Forces Wounded," following recommendations approved in July. Planned changes include assigning personal liaisons to each wounded individual, simplifying injury recognition processes, incentivizing employment, and establishing specialized support for severe head injury patients, lone soldiers, and female casualties. The ongoing challenges underscore that managing the war's aftermath, particularly the care for tens of thousands of wounded, remains one of the state's most significant long-term tasks.