Israeli children's psychiatric ER visits surge 121% since Oct. 7, report finds

A recent report found that the number of children and teenagers visiting psychiatric emergency departments in Israel surged 121% after the outbreak of the war on October 7, 2023, compared to the two years prior. The increase was particularly notable among those displaced from communities in southern and northern Israel. The Clalit Health Services, Israel's largest healthcare provider, examined health and medical service usage changes during the war and identified a 45.5% rise in anxiety disorder diagnoses and a doubling of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) cases.

The report noted that the PTSD diagnosis rates among residents evacuated from Gaza border communities were 18 times higher in the first year of the war, remaining 11 times higher in the second year and six times higher in the third year. Dr. Yarden Levinsky, Clalit's mental health division director, explained that the trauma could have occurred months or even years before the diagnosis, as people often seek help to cope with distress rather than the immediate aftermath of the war.

The prolonged conflict has likely sustained high mental health strain, with many individuals finding it difficult to return to their previous state of functioning. The report also highlighted worsening physical health issues, including increases in high blood pressure, cholesterol, and worsening blood pressure control among evacuees. Prescription rates for treatments like smoking cessation also rose significantly.