Mental Health Crisis Deepens in Israel After Three Years of Conflict

New data from Israel’s emotional first-aid organization, ERAN, reveals that nearly one million requests for psychological support have been recorded since the October 7, 2023, attacks. The organization reported over 928,000 contacts, including more than 21,000 involving suicidal thoughts. Notably, the proportion of such inquiries among young people has risen significantly, while reports of loneliness have climbed from 28% in the first year of the war to 41% by the third year.

The psychological impact extends to Israel’s military, with ERAN documenting 160,000 contacts from soldiers and reservists facing emotional distress. Additionally, Clalit Health Services reported that psychiatric emergency visits for children and adolescents have surged by 121.3% compared to prewar levels. Diagnoses of post-traumatic stress disorder have also doubled across the general population. These findings highlight the extensive trauma affecting Israeli society as families navigate the long-term consequences of ongoing conflict and displacement.