As Israel marks the third anniversary of the October 7 Hamas-led attacks, the deep psychological toll on the population remains evident through soaring post-traumatic stress rates, widespread struggles with everyday life, and a rise in military suicides, according to mental health experts. The initial attacks resulted in about 1,200 deaths in southern Israel, while the subsequent military campaign in Gaza has killed more than 74,000 Palestinians and left the territory largely uninhabitable. Beneath the surface of normal daily functions, ongoing missile strikes and regional warfare continue to compound psychological strain across Israeli society.
Recent findings from the National Mental Health Barometer, conducted by the Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute and Clalit Health Services' Research Institute, indicate that one in five Israelis experiences severe difficulties with daily functioning due to mental health issues. Separate research shared by Clalit highlights a 121 percent increase in psychiatric emergency visits among children and adolescents compared with pre-war levels. Families across the country are grappling with profound bereavement and intense anxiety about the future.
Among those affected is Irit Ben Arye, whose husband, a 52-year-old bus driver, drove south on October 7, 2023, to help evacuate survivors from Kibbutz Be'eri. He returned home in deep distress and died by suicide about two weeks later. Speaking during a webinar organized by Clalit, Ben Arye expressed concern for her surviving children, urging them to seek help and make their pain visible rather than suffering alone. Broader data from the mental health barometer reveals that one-third of Israelis feel they need psychological treatment, with half reporting impacts on leisure activities and 35 percent noting difficulties in maintaining close relationships.
Persistent threats, rocket fire, and retaliatory strikes have subjected civilians to repeated cycles of fear and disruption. Eric Vermetten, a professor of psychiatry at Leiden University Medical Center, noted that constant vigilance, warning sirens, and displacement turn ordinary decisions into calculations of safety. This continuous exposure leads to fragmented sleep, diminished concentration, and strained relationships. Edgar Jones, a professor at King's College London, emphasized that while some individuals adapt, those who experience direct loss or home destruction frequently develop post-traumatic illnesses, noting that sustained disruption eventually pushes people toward their breaking point.
The strain of extended combat is also heavily reflected within military ranks. Conscripts and reservists cycling repeatedly between active combat zones and civilian life often lack sufficient time to process trauma, loss, and difficult operational experiences. Experts point out that service members frequently face moral injury when military actions conflict with their personal values, sparking intense feelings of guilt, shame, and anger.
Parliamentary data indicates that 279 suicide attempts were recorded among active-duty soldiers between January 2024 and July 2025, with combat personnel accounting for the vast majority of military suicide deaths in 2024. While professionals caution that suicide is not an inevitable outcome of conflict, prolonged combat exposure, isolation, and distress significantly heighten vulnerability among troops.