War's Toll on Israeli Women: A Hidden Crisis of Mental and Physical Strain
Translated & summarized from Bizportal by baba
A new report by NATAL reveals the significant mental and physical toll the ongoing war has taken on women in Israel. Three years after October 7th, women report worsening mental health, exhaustion, and sleep difficulties, with nearly double the risk of PTSD and depression compared to men. The review highlights that women often mask their distress by maintaining daily routines, and the burden is particularly heavy on mothers and partners of reservists. NATAL's CEO stated that strengthening women's resilience is crucial for families and society, calling for tailored support.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- 55% of Israeli women reported worsening mental health since the war began, compared to 31% of men.
- Women are nearly twice as likely as men to develop PTSD and depression, according to a new report.
- 62% of women reported cumulative exhaustion and sleep difficulties due to the ongoing conflict.
- Mothers of conscripted soldiers showed significantly poorer physical health and higher rates of PTSD, depression, and anxiety.
- Among couples with both partners in reserve duty, 24% reported physical or sexual violence.
- The report emphasizes that women often hide their distress by maintaining daily routines.
A new review by the NATAL organization highlights the significant, often unseen, toll the ongoing war is taking on women in Israel, three years after the October 7th attacks. The report, based on research from Israel and abroad, administrative data, and self-reports from women seeking assistance, maps the impact on female combatants, reservists' partners, soldiers' mothers, evacuees, and working women who have maintained daily routines despite immense personal distress.
A key finding reveals a disconnect between women's outward functioning and their internal struggles. Researchers explain that continuing daily tasks, such as working and childcare, often serves as a survival strategy to prevent family routines from collapsing, masking severe internal exhaustion and distress. This sustained functionality does not necessarily indicate resilience or effective coping.
The review indicates that 55% of women reported a decline in their mental state since the war began, compared to 31% of men. Furthermore, 62% of women experienced cumulative exhaustion and sleep difficulties. The report also notes that women are nearly twice as likely as men to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression.
Dr. Yifat Reuveni, Director of Research at NATAL, emphasized that this outward functioning can obscure the depth of distress. She called for a tailored approach to understanding how distress manifests in women, moving beyond models primarily developed from men's experiences. "When a woman deals with trauma, the impact doesn't stop with her, it affects all the circles around her, reaching children, relationships, work, and the community," stated Gilad Nusbaum, CEO of NATAL, adding that strengthening women's resilience also bolsters the family and society as a whole.
The burden is particularly pronounced among mothers and partners of reservists. The review found that 47.4% of mothers with conscripted children reported poor or fair physical health, versus 25.8% of mothers without conscripted children. Among NATAL's clients, mothers of soldiers showed higher levels of PTSD, depression, and anxiety symptoms than partners and fathers of soldiers. Additionally, 45% of women reported a worsening of their general physical condition. Evacuated women with families saw a 136% increase in sleeping pill usage, and 38.5% reported regular use of tranquilizers.
The report also addresses the impact on family and romantic relationships. Among couples where both partners served in the reserves, 24% reported physical or sexual violence, compared to 3% in couples where neither partner served, though the study notes this comparison doesn't prove reserve duty as the cause. The review also points to moral injury, a psychological, ethical, or spiritual distress arising from events that deeply conflict with one's values. Among female reservists, higher levels of feelings of abandonment or a collapse of trust in the system were found. Researchers stress that moral injury can manifest differently in women than in men.