One in Five Not Fully Recovered: The Dark Side of Israel's Post-Trauma Recovery

The study highlights an unprecedented level of trauma exposure, with about 15% of respondents reporting the highest level of personal exposure. This includes individuals who were present during the October 7th attacks or subsequent terror incidents, or who personally knew someone killed, injured, or abducted. This exposure rate is dramatically higher than the 4% rate recorded in the United States following the 9/11 attacks.

Young women aged 18 to 35 are disproportionately affected, with 32% reporting severe functional impairment due to their mental state. While functioning in work and household management remained relatively stable, social functioning and leisure activities were significantly impacted, with half of the respondents reporting a decline in leisure activities.

According to the findings, 23% of those diagnosed with a mental disorder were first diagnosed after October 7th. A third of Israelis feel they need mental health treatment, but about half of those do not seek it. Additionally, over 60% of those clinically affected by PTSD continue to experience significant symptoms, and a strong link was found between exposure to difficult media content and increased symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and depression.