New figures released Sunday by the Defense Ministry paint a dire picture for the mental health of Israel Defense Forces (IDF) veterans. By 2028, the ministry’s Rehabilitation Department anticipates caring for approximately 100,000 wounded and disabled veterans, with at least half expected to suffer from significant mental health disorders.
Since Hamas’ October 7 attack, the rehabilitation unit has treated 18,500 soldiers, including 3,769 officially diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Officials caution that the psychological impact of the conflict will continue to worsen long after active combat ceases. A senior Defense Ministry official stated, “Once the war is over, this will hit us as a national challenge.”
Currently, more than 10,000 soldiers are receiving mental health treatment for trauma related to the war, with roughly 9,000 others undergoing the official recognition process for PTSD. These numbers mark an unprecedented surge compared to previous conflicts.
For example, during the 2014 Operation Protective Edge, only 159 soldiers were recognized with PTSD. By contrast, 1,430 soldiers were recognized in 2023 alone, and that figure rose sharply to 2,210 in 2024—the highest annual increase on record.
Among those diagnosed last year, 1,512 were men and 88 women. The breakdown includes 693 conscripts, many of whom developed PTSD due to the Gaza war, alongside 144 career soldiers, 184 reservists, and roughly 500 veterans from other military categories who began the process during service and have since been discharged.
Nearly half of the 18,500 soldiers wounded since October 7 are under the age of 30, with many reservists supporting young families. This influx has placed immense strain on mental health services. An official acknowledged, “We have one social worker for every 750 disabled veterans, making it impossible to provide personalized care for everyone.” The country also faces a nationwide shortage of psychiatrists.
To address these challenges, the Rehabilitation Department has expanded resources, opening over ten rehabilitation farms, four open houses near psychiatric hospitals offering alternatives to hospitalization, and mobile mental health units responding to crises—including suicide attempts—across Israel. Additionally, a specialized recovery home has been established in Hofit to assist veterans struggling with family reintegration.
The financial cost is substantial. Billions of shekels are being redirected to mental health programs rather than traditional military support such as gyms and equipment. The Defense Ministry is now appealing to international donors to help fund rehabilitation and mental health initiatives.
The mental health crisis also impacts Israel’s economy. Over 12,000 active-duty and reserve soldiers have left combat units and battalions, and many are no longer part of the workforce or pursuing careers. “This means the economy is taking a hit too,” officials explained.
The Defense Ministry also noted that they regularly receive calls from former soldiers experiencing intense psychological distress triggered by past combat events and recent battles in Gaza.
The IDF emphasized its commitment to recognizing PTSD as a combat injury and providing support. “From the start of the war in Gaza, we established emergency mental health frameworks near combat zones, and six months later, we launched a new center for long-term care,” the IDF said.
Attorney Heidi Negev, head of the Movement for Freedom of Information, called for greater transparency, urging authorities to publish data of such critical moral and public importance on a regular basis rather than only in response to NGO or media inquiries.
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