Israel: Mental Health in Crisis

Israel: Mental Health in Crisis October 5, 2026Note: In this report, we address severe mental illnesses and suicide. The content may be burdensome to some people. Ronen Shalev can feel it physically: The third anniversary of the October 7, 2023 terror attack is approaching. "One starts to tremble," he says to DW. "It's not just about one day and then you continue. There are many graves we visit, many families we meet. It is a difficult time and your body feels it." His two children were at the Nova Festival in southern Israel, where almost 400 out of more than 1200 people were killed by the radical Islamist Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas and its affiliated groups from the Gaza Strip during the terror attack. The attacks led to the war in Gaza, in which the Israeli forces killed tens of thousands of Palestinians. A large part of the population was displaced. Shalev's daughter Lior survived the attack. Shalev's son Roee was shot and had to be hospitalized, but he had to watch as his partner Mapal Adam was killed. Shortly after the terror attack, Shalev's wife Gavriela disappeared. Her body was found in a burned car along with a farewell letter. "She could not cope with the pain that this day caused," Shalev says. At the same time, symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder became noticeable in his son Roee, mainly in the form of extreme mood swings. "He sought treatment to help me, but he wasn't really convinced. He thought he was okay, that he was strong," Shalev recalls. Two years after the death of his partner and mother, Roee could not go on. "I live, but inside I am dead," Roee wrote in a farewell message on his Instagram account. "I am sorry." A Country in a Post-Traumatic State Since October 2023, Israel has been experiencing a mental health crisis of unknown magnitude. According to a report by the Israeli State Comptroller from February 2025, 39 percent of Israelis suffer from post-traumatic symptoms, depression, anxiety, or a combination of these ailments to some extent. This is three million people. 600,000 of them suffer particularly badly. The affected groups include survivors of the attacks as well as people who were evacuated from their homes in the south and north of Israel due to the war. The report also found that the number of people receiving psychological treatment has increased by only one percent since October 7, 2023, that is, about 60,000 people. Insufficient Resources Noga Dagan-Buzaglo researches at the Adva Center, a think tank that deals with inequality in Israeli society. She has written an extensive expert article on mental healthcare in Israel and the challenges after October 7. Although the budget for mental healthcare was increased due to the war, she tells DW, the funds are still not sufficient and were also approved too late. The healthcare system is dealing with a persistent crisis that was not handled adequately. "The biggest challenge is to convince people to work in the mental health area of public health, because salaries are lower compared to the private sector and the workload is high," she complains. Sedatives as a Panacea The current situation also does not pass unnoticed for the professionals in mental health. A study by the University of Haifa found that 84 percent of the therapists who treated those affected by the October 7 attacks themselves developed traumatic symptoms. Forty-five percent of them said they felt mentally exhausted. The Israeli Ministry of Health has repeatedly emphasized that it has increased the funds and the number of positions in the public system for mental health, but there is still a shortage of staff, especially in more remote regions in the north and south of the country. Due to these problems, waiting times for treatment in the public healthcare system are more than six months according to the report. In some cases, patients had to wait over a year to receive help, so Dagan-Buzaglo. Government-independent organizations and volunteers in mental health are trying to fill the gaps, but they themselves often struggle with the high workload. As a result, prescription medications are increasingly used. According to a statement from the Israeli Ministry of Health this year, the prescription of sedatives, sleeping pills, and antidepressants increased by 13 to 17 percent. Those who cannot afford private therapy for themselves suffer the most from the situation. For Dagan-Buzaglo, the public health system's response to the situation is "simply bad." Endangered Soldiers The active soldiers are particularly affected by the mental health crisis in Israel. Figures published by the Israeli Parliament and the Israeli Armed Forces indicate a sharp increase in suicides among reservists: while there was a maximum of one suicide per year in the six years before the war, there were eleven cases in 2024. Nine cases as suspected suicides were investigated in 2025. Former soldiers who committed suicide after their active service due to the traumas suffered are not included in this statistic. Dagan-Buzaglo says that while payment and working conditions in the army are better, there is also a noticeable shortage of personnel there. "Even in the army, the duration and quality of treatment are far from sufficient." She is convinced that more resources are needed for the system to adequately support both civilians and soldiers. "We must realize that traumas do not end after a year. This means that money must be invested." Breaking the Taboo Ronen Shalev regularly gives lectures and speaks - often to soldiers - about the importance of mental health. For him, it is the best way to carry on his son's legacy and fight for life further. He himself was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but he says he chose to live his life to the fullest. He wants to break the taboo that still exists in Israeli society regarding suicide thoughts. "This applies especially to all those who think they are strong. They must be especially afraid, because for them, it is least likely that they will be treated." Speaking publicly about his family's experiences has become part of his own healing. And a way to encourage others to seek help before they enter a crisis. "Despite all my pain: Life is worth choosing it," he says. Adapted from English by Phoenix Hanzo. If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or are in emotional distress, do not hesitate to seek help. Where help is available in your country, you can find it on the website https://www.befrienders.org/. In Germany, you can get help from the telephone counseling services at the free numbers 0800/111 0 111 and 0800/111 0 222.