Four Female Soldiers in IDF's Lions of Jordan Battalion Denied Mental Health Support for Over Two Months

In recent months, four female soldiers undergoing training in the IDF's mixed-gender Lions of Jordan battalion requested to meet with a mental health officer (Kaban) but were not provided timely support. According to reports, these soldiers waited more than two and a half months for such a meeting, in direct violation of IDF mental health protocols. One of the soldiers, who is reportedly in a complex mental state and unable to participate fully in activities, claimed that her commander threatened to deny her access to mental health services if she sought help to leave the service.

This incident follows a troubling week in which three soldiers, including a reservist, an intelligence soldier, and a female combatant from the Bardelas mixed-gender battalion, took their own lives despite having sought assistance. The IDF spokesperson stated that the conduct of the commanders involved is under investigation and emphasized that the brigade has an accessible mental health system with a dedicated officer assigned to the company in question. Some requests for mental health support were recently fulfilled, while others were canceled at the soldiers' own request.

Following media inquiries, the IDF confirmed that these cases are now being addressed with full seriousness. The report also highlighted the availability of the ERAN association, which provides 24/7 anonymous mental health support to anyone in distress, including soldiers and their families, via phone, website, and WhatsApp.