One in Three Young Israelis Reports Anxiety, Depression or PTSD Symptoms

Two years and eight months have passed since the October 7 massacre, but the security reality has not really changed. Only at the beginning of the week, Israel went through another round of fighting with Iran, and the effects on Israelis’ mental health are already being felt on the ground. A new study by Clalit Health Services and the Brodkail Institute examined the mental state of thousands of Israelis over the past two and a half years following the war, and the results are concerning.

According to data published by Eliashiv Harel, the health correspondent for IDF Radio, one in three young people, ages 18 to 34, has experienced symptoms of depression, anxiety or post-trauma since the war. In addition, one in five young people says that the mental distress they have experienced as a result of the war has caused significant impairment in functioning. In other words, the mental state of these young people has affected their ability to study, work, maintain a routine and carry out normal daily functioning.

Prof. Ran Balicer, deputy CEO and head of innovation at Clalit, one of the lead researchers, warns that the damage among young people could also have long-term effects: “At ages 18 to 35, adult life paths are taking shape, studies, work, starting a family. Therefore, it is especially important in this group to continue developing proactive responses that will prevent mental distress from becoming entrenched and causing long-term impairment in functioning.”

Although there has been some decline, at least among young people, compared with the mental state that prevailed at the start of the war in December 2023, even after two and a half years the worrying figures remain especially high.