Israel's mental health crisis in the wake of Oct. 7 attacks
More than a third of Israelis have shown symptoms of mental health conditions, a report found. Three years after the October 7 attack, the country's health system is still struggling to come to terms with its effects.
Three years after the October 7 attacks on Israel, the nation is struggling with a mental health crisis on an unprecedented scale. According to the State Comptroller's report from February 2025, 39% of the Israeli public reported suffering from post-traumatic symptoms, depression, or anxiety at a moderate or severe level. This affects approximately 3 million people, with 600,000 experiencing severe symptoms.
However, the number of individuals receiving mental health treatment has only increased by 1% since the attacks, resulting in only 60,000 additional people seeking help.
The challenges are particularly dire for mental health professionals, who face staffing shortages and an overload of work. According to a University of Haifa study, 84% of therapists who treated victims of the October 7 attacks showed traumatic symptoms themselves, and 45% reported feeling mentally exhausted. Despite increased funding and job openings, waiting times for treatment through Israel's public healthcare system are longer than six months, with some patients waiting over a year.
The crisis also impacts combat soldiers, with a sharp rise in suicide cases among reservists. While professionals working for the army receive better pay and conditions, the lack of personnel and inadequate treatment quality remain concerns. Mental health researcher Noga Dagan-Buzaglo calls for more support to address the trauma that does not fade after a year, emphasizing the need to break the taboo surrounding suicidality and encourage those who feel strong to seek help.
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