Israel in a state of mental emergency | Oren Hellman
Three years after the October 7 disaster, National Insurance Institute data reveals: 87,286 civilians are being treated as victims of hostile actions, of whom 34,878 have been recognized as disabled due to mental injury. Together with security force casualties, the total number exceeds 100,000. The column calls for recognizing the crisis as a national emergency.
Three years after the October 7 disaster, published National Insurance Institute data reveals the depth of the mental injury in Israeli society. 87,286 civilians are being treated as victims of hostile actions, of whom 34,878 have been recognized as disabled due to mental injury and an additional 2,355 with both physical and mental injury. Together with IDF and security force casualties treated by the Defense Ministry, the total number exceeds 100,000 people. The column, by Oren Hellman, describes the invisible wounded - Nova survivors, residents of the Gaza envelope, evacuees, bereaved families, soldiers and reservists - and the second circle of affected families. Hellman warns against treating mental health as just another budget item and calls for a long-term national plan including increasing the number of professionals, shortening waiting times, family support and fighting stigma. The tone is an impassioned call for social and state responsibility.