Amman: The number of Israeli soldiers receiving treatment for psychological disorders has increased significantly since the war in Gaza began two years ago, an official from the Israeli Defense Ministry has reported. Tamar Shimoni, the deputy head of the ministry's Rehabilitation Department, highlighted the growing concern over soldiers' mental health during an interview with Army Radio.

According to Anadolu Agency - English, as of the evening of October 7, 2023, approximately 62,000 soldiers were being treated for psychological issues. This figure has now surged to around 85,000, marking what Shimoni described as an 'unprecedented' rise. She further revealed that one-third of the soldiers are grappling with psychological problems related to the events of October 7.

Shimoni expressed concern over the workload faced by therapists, with each currently responsible for up to 750 patients, and in some cases, even more. This overwhelming case load poses a significant challenge to providing timely care to all those in need.

In a related development, the newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth warned in November of a 'widespread psychological crisis' in the country, pointing to rising drug addiction and nearly two million people requiring mental health support. The military has also seen an increase in suicides, with reports from the newspaper Maariv indicating that a soldier died by suicide after suffering from post-traumatic stress following combat. Additionally, a reserve officer from the Givati Brigade reportedly died by suicide last week after facing psychological struggles.

Israeli military data published in October revealed 279 suicide attempts over 18 months, with 36 resulting in deaths. Meanwhile, the conflict in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of more than 70,000 people, predominantly women and children, and injuries to over 171,000 others since October 2023.

Source: Anadolu Agency - English