Three Years of War Take Heavy Toll on Israelis' Mental and Physical Health
Translated & summarized from Cursorinfo by baba
Three years of war have significantly impacted Israelis' mental and physical health, particularly among children, with a 121.3% rise in emergency psychiatric consultations for minors. Anxiety and PTSD diagnoses have increased substantially nationwide, while evacuated populations face somatic issues like enuresis, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Despite these challenges, remote consultations have helped maintain patient care, and overall rates of heart attacks and strokes have not increased. Experts anticipate long-term monitoring will be necessary for affected populations.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Emergency psychiatric consultations for Israeli minors have increased by 121.3% over three years of war.
- Anxiety disorder diagnoses rose by 45.5% and PTSD cases doubled in the first year of the conflict.
- Evacuated children from southern Israel saw a 47.8% increase in medications for nocturnal enuresis.
- Demand for ADHD medication nationwide increased by 25% due to chronic stress.
- Evacuees from southern Israel experienced a 53.7% rise in uncontrolled high blood pressure.
- Remote consultations increased by 50%, aiding continued medical care for evacuees.
Three years of ongoing conflict have led to a significant increase in psychological diagnoses across Israel, with children and adolescents bearing the brunt of the mental health impact. A comprehensive report by the Clalit health fund revealed that emergency psychiatric consultations for minors surged by 121.3% compared to the pre-war period, according to Israel Hayom. The study, which analyzed data from approximately 5 million insured individuals, also found a 45.5% rise in anxiety disorder diagnoses nationwide in the first year of the war, with PTSD cases doubling. While adults did not experience a sharp increase in emergency psychiatric visits, chronic stress has manifested in somatic problems among children. Evacuated families from southern Israel saw a 47.8% increase in the use of medications for nocturnal enuresis, and demand for ADHD medication rose by 25% across the country. Residents of southern and northern regions, forced to evacuate their homes, were most affected. Post-traumatic stress syndrome was diagnosed 18 times more frequently among those evacuated from the south in the first year of the war, though this figure has since decreased to six times the pre-war level. The upheaval of living in hotels has also impacted physical health, with a 53.7% jump in uncontrolled high blood pressure among southern evacuees and a 60% increase in high cholesterol levels reported among those from the north. On a positive note, remote consultations increased by 50% in evacuation zones, ensuring continued patient-doctor contact. Overall rates of heart attacks and strokes did not rise during the three-year period, and emergency room visits even declined. However, specialists warn that the effects of chronic stress will persist, necessitating long-term monitoring of children's mental health and the well-being of evacuated citizens.
