Israel Faces Mental Health Emergency Following October 7th
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
Israel is facing a national mental health emergency three years after the October 7th attacks, with over 100,000 civilians and security personnel identified as casualties, many with psychological trauma. Official figures show tens of thousands recognized with disabilities due to mental health impacts. The author, Oren Helman, calls for a national, long-term plan to address the crisis, combat stigma, and support affected individuals and their families, warning that the repercussions will affect Israeli society for years to come.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Over 100,000 Israelis have been identified as casualties, many with psychological trauma, three years after the October 7th attacks.
- Official data indicates 34,878 individuals have been recognized with disabilities due to psychological trauma.
- The mental health crisis extends to families, impacting the entire household.
- The author calls for a national, long-term plan to address the mental health emergency.
- Combating the stigma surrounding mental health issues is crucial for recovery.
- The crisis is expected to have long-term effects on various sectors of Israeli society.
Three years after the October 7th failures, Israel is grappling with a profound mental health crisis, with over 100,000 individuals, both civilian and security personnel, identified as casualties. A significant portion of these casualties have already been recognized as having sustained psychological injuries. The author, Oren Helman, emphasizes that this "war after the war" on the Israeli psyche is expected to continue long after the cessation of hostilities, necessitating a national mission for rehabilitation.
New official figures from the National Insurance Institute reveal that 87,286 civilians are being treated as victims of hostile acts. Of these, 43,004 have filed for disability recognition, and 40,407 have been granted it. Critically, 34,878 individuals have been recognized with disabilities specifically due to psychological trauma, with an additional 2,355 having both physical and psychological injuries. This brings the total number of civilians with recognized disabilities, including mental health impacts, to over 37,000.
When factoring in casualties treated by the Ministry of Defense's Rehabilitation Department, the combined number of affected civilians and security forces surpasses 100,000. Helman stresses that these "invisible wounded", those without visible physical injuries, are pervasive throughout society, including survivors of the Nova music festival, residents of Gaza border communities, evacuees, bereaved families, and those who endured prolonged periods of hiding. Security forces returning from combat also form a significant part of this group, with some experiencing delayed onset of trauma.
The crisis extends to a secondary circle of affected individuals: the families of those killed, injured, or suffering from mental health issues. Helman argues that addressing mental health cannot be treated as a mere budget item within health or welfare departments. Instead, it requires a comprehensive, long-term national plan to increase mental health professionals, shorten treatment wait times, bolster community mental health services, and provide support to families. Furthermore, he calls for efforts to combat the stigma surrounding mental health issues, encouraging open discussion and seeking help.
The author concludes that the disaster of October 7th and the subsequent war have ongoing repercussions, impacting families, workplaces, educational institutions, healthcare systems, and the economy. He urges society to recognize the severity of the situation and to be prepared to truly listen when individuals express their struggles, emphasizing that behind the statistics are individuals and families in need of recognition and support.
