by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief
(Worthy News) – Nearly one million requests for emotional and psychological support have been recorded in Israel since Hamas launched its October 7, 2023, terrorist attacks, revealing the devastating mental health toll of three years of war, displacement, and continuing security threats.
According to a report released Tuesday by ERAN, Israel’s emotional first-aid organization, its volunteers responded to 928,911 requests for assistance, including 774,604 telephone calls and more than 154,000 digital contacts.
Among the most troubling findings were 21,829 contacts involving suicidal thoughts, intentions, or actions, with the proportion of such inquiries among teenagers and young adults rising from 2.6% during the first year of war to 4.4% in the third year. Officials cautioned that the figures do not necessarily indicate an increase in actual suicide attempts.
Loneliness has also emerged as a growing crisis. During the first year, approximately 28% of inquiries involved loneliness, a figure that climbed to 41% by the third year.
The psychological burden has extended deeply into Israel’s military. ERAN reported approximately 160,000 contacts from active-duty soldiers and reservists struggling with emotional distress, isolation, and the challenges of returning to civilian life.
A separate report from Clalit Health Services, Israel’s largest health provider, found that psychiatric emergency visits among children and adolescents increased 121.3% above prewar levels during the third year of the conflict. Diagnoses of post-traumatic stress disorder also doubled across the population following the October 7 massacre.
The findings underscore a painful reality: while Israel continues confronting military threats, another battle is unfolding within its homes, schools, and communities as families struggle with grief, trauma, and the long road toward recovery.
For Christians worldwide who continue praying for the peace of Jerusalem, the figures offer a sobering reminder that Israel’s need for healing extends far beyond the battlefield.
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