Nearly a million calls to helplines: The mental distress on the third anniversary of the war

The ERAN mental health association has released data summarizing three years of war, revealing a concerning picture: 928,911 calls to helplines, a surge in reports of loneliness among the general public, nearly a doubling of suicidal calls among youth and young adults, and an increase in reports of sexual assault by soldiers.

The ERAN (First Mental Health Aid) association released data on Tuesday summarizing three years of war, revealing a concerning picture from mental health helplines. Over the three years of fighting, 928,911 calls were received from civilians, soldiers, and young people across the country, of which over 774,000 were by phone and the rest via digital channels and WhatsApp. In the third year, there was a slight decrease in the overall volume (about 291,000 calls compared to about 320,000 in the second year), but a concerning increase was recorded in specific distress indicators. The rate of calls about loneliness in the general population jumped from 28% in the first year to 41% in the third year. Among youth and young adults, the rate of calls containing suicidal content nearly doubled, from 2.6% to 4.4%. Among soldiers, there was an increase in reports of violence and sexual assault, which stood at 8% in the past year. In total, 21,829 calls contained suicidal content, although the overall rate of suicidal calls remained lower than that recorded before the war (about 2.35% compared to about 3% previously). ERAN CEO David Koren stated that behind every call is a person dealing with pain, loss, anxiety, loneliness, or burnout. Dr. Shiri Daniels, the national professional director, called for identifying signs of distress and asking about suicidality directly.