Mental Distress Soars 25% Around Oct. 7 Anniversary, Aid Group Reports
Translated & summarized from Walla by baba
Three years after the October 7th attacks, the Israeli aid organization SAHAR reports a 25% increase in calls around the anniversary, with new data showing a significant rise in distress related to bereavement, financial hardship, and difficulty accessing mental healthcare. The organization's CEO stated that while direct trauma discussions have lessened, other forms of suffering have increased and are often not outwardly visible. SAHAR will host a webinar on October 11th to address these ongoing, less apparent struggles.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Calls to SAHAR increased 25% around the Oct. 7 anniversary, highlighting ongoing psychological distress.
- Bereavement and loss calls rose 82% in the third year of war, alongside 46% more financial hardship calls.
- Difficulty accessing mental and medical care surged 92% in the third year of war, SAHAR reports.
- SAHAR CEO Inbar Shenfeld noted distress is changing, with less visible struggles becoming more prominent.
- An upcoming webinar on Oct. 11 will address these less apparent mental health challenges.
Three years after the October 7th attacks, the psychological toll continues to mount, with a significant increase in calls to the online support organization SAHAR (Support and Listening Network). While direct discussions of trauma and war have somewhat subsided from their initial peak, the organization reports a substantial rise in other forms of distress. In the third year of the war, calls related to bereavement and loss increased by 82%, and those concerning financial difficulties rose by 46%.
SAHAR also noted a dramatic increase in the difficulty individuals face in accessing mental and medical care. In the third year of the war, calls reporting struggles to receive psychological or medical assistance surged by 92% compared to the pre-war period. This follows a 67% increase in such calls during the second year.
The approach of the anniversary itself also exacerbates distress. In the first six days of October, SAHAR saw a 25% increase in calls compared to the same period in September. Common themes during this time included depressive moods, loneliness, and hopelessness, illustrating how the anniversary can resurface trauma even years later.
"Three years after October 7th, we see that the distress has not disappeared, but it is changing," said Inbar Shenfeld, CEO of SAHAR. "Alongside the trauma and the war itself, we are encountering more bereavement and loss, financial difficulties, and challenges in receiving psychological support. These are not always things that are visible from the outside."
In response to these ongoing challenges, SAHAR will host a webinar on October 11th titled "Circles of Connection, The Invisible Layers." The event will focus on less visible forms of distress and the cumulative effects of three years of war, featuring professionals in psychology and mental health, as well as representatives from reservist families. The webinar is free and requires advance registration.
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