War's Toll: 30,000 IDF Soldiers Injured Since Oct. 7, Majority With Mental Trauma

Since the outbreak of the war on October 7, 2023, the Ministry of Defense's Rehabilitation Department has registered approximately 30,000 wounded soldiers from the IDF and security forces. Of these, about 63%, or nearly 19,000 individuals, are dealing with mental health injuries. For comparison, before the war, the department was treating 62,000 wounded, meaning the number of new casualties in the recent period is almost half the pre-war caseload.

Before the current conflict, approximately 11,000 of the 62,000 individuals under care had mental health issues. The total number of individuals treated by the Rehabilitation Department, encompassing all of Israel's security systems, has reached 91,200, with 42,500 suffering from mental health conditions and post-traumatic stress disorder, representing about 46% of all patients.

Among the 30,000 wounded since October 7, 47% are under 30 years old, 8% are women, and 62% are reservists. While 37% sustained physical injuries, the majority, 63%, are dealing with mental health challenges. The department estimates that by 2028, it will be treating around 100,000 wounded individuals, with roughly half experiencing mental health issues.

The most severe cases include 63 individuals with 100% disability or higher, 249 with complex head injuries, 29 with blindness or severe vision impairment, and 106 amputees. Notably, 95% of amputees have been fitted with advanced prosthetics designed for extreme sports and leisure activities.

In response to the growing needs, the government adopted recommendations in July from a public committee led by Prof. Shlomo Mor Yosef to enhance national support for IDF wounded. These include transforming the Rehabilitation Department into a "National Authority for Rehabilitation and Treatment of IDF and Security Forces Wounded," assigning a personal liaison to each wounded individual, streamlining injury recognition and disability assessment, incentivizing employment that aids rehabilitation, and establishing a "House for Life" for those with severe head injuries. Special provisions for lone soldiers and female casualties were also recommended.

Since October 7, the department has expanded its medical and mental health services. Its budget has increased by 88% over the past three years to 10 billion shekels, with over 60% allocated to mental health and PTSD treatments. This year alone, approximately 171,000 alternative therapy sessions have been conducted, and the "Nefesh Achat" (One Soul) helpline received about 16,500 calls. The department is also utilizing 470 emotional support dogs, with another 330 in training, and has tripled the number of mental health professionals to around 2,300 since the war's start. New services include an emergency response unit and crisis team, rehabilitation farms, community-based safe and balancing houses, and technological solutions for PTSD. The emergency unit has responded to over 500 calls since January 2024. Furthermore, 2,425 wounded individuals have received full support and funding for academic and vocational studies, with law, business administration, and computer science being the most popular fields.