IDF and Defense Ministry Struggle as Tens of Thousands of Soldiers Face PTSD Risk

The Israeli military and the Defense Ministry are struggling to manage a rising tide of reservists seeking mental health care following nearly three years of intense combat on multiple fronts. Reservations within the ranks suggest that current systems are failing to keep pace with the growing demand for psychological support after long deployments.

Official estimates from the IDF and the Defense Ministry's Rehabilitation Department indicate that tens of thousands of soldiers, predominantly reservists, will develop post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the war. More than 7,000 soldiers, most of them combat troops, have already been officially recognized as having psychological disabilities stemming from their service. Specialists warn that the psychological shockwaves affecting hundreds of thousands of personnel are only beginning and are expected to intensify in the coming years.

Sources familiar with the issue describe a significant disparity between regular-service soldiers and reserve personnel. While regular troops receive ongoing support, reservists often find that their assistance is limited to the final stages of their deployments. Military sources serving in the reserves claim that once they have become civilians, the military considers its responsibility fulfilled, leaving them to navigate bureaucracy and thin support services alone. Consequently, thousands of reservists are traveling abroad to join workshops and receive treatment from private nonprofit organizations.

One source argued that the IDF should work more closely with these external groups to maintain consistent standards of care. They stated that it would have been preferable for the IDF to initiate a process with nonprofit organizations and private bodies to minimize the gaps in diagnosis, oversight, and ultimately treatment. The IDF Medical Corps manages the Ta'atzumot Clinic and the Combat Stress Reaction Unit, but sources say the capacity of these services has not kept pace with demand while fighting continues. A dangerous trend has emerged where combat soldiers bypass the military system in favor of private providers and overseas programs.

The IDF Spokesperson's Unit responded that the military gives the utmost importance to mental health care and has significantly expanded capacity since the war began. It stated that new clinics have opened across Israel and a 24-hour hotline operates seven days a week. The military also emphasized that it proactively identifies those who may need help through structured debriefing sessions with units right after operational deployments. The Ta'atzumot Clinic reports that about 65% of its patients return to service, a figure the military stressed covers only those treated at the clinic, not all soldiers with post-traumatic symptoms.

The Combat Stress Reaction Unit, which treats veterans and discharged personnel, has seen more than 5,000 new patients and has worked to keep waiting times short. The IDF added that after almost three years of exceptionally intensive reserve deployments, it has built a framework called the Service Cycle. This approach reflects the view that reserve service is no longer a set period of mobilization followed by discharge, but rather a continuous factor that can affect reservists, their families, and their units throughout the year.

The Medical Corps said it does not oppose releasing data on personnel with combat stress reactions, noting that such figures are already published in scientific publications. It also clarified that some services fall under civilian bodies, including the Health Ministry and health maintenance organizations, and that Israeli law generally bars the IDF from treating civilians except through the Combat Stress Reaction Unit.