The wave of post-trauma is just beginning: reservists' fear of a mental health crisis in the IDF

Military reservist sources warn of an escalating mental health crisis in the IDF after three years of combat, claiming the system cannot handle the volume of requests for assistance. The IDF responds that 65% of patients at the 'Tatzumot' clinic return to service, and that over 5,000 have been treated by the combat reactions unit.

After three years of intense combat on multiple fronts, military reservist sources are warning of an escalating mental health crisis in the IDF. According to them, thousands of reservists are seeking private treatment abroad through NGOs due to the military system's partial response. They criticize the gap between the support provided to regular soldiers and the limited response for reservists, warning that the expected wave of post-trauma is only beginning. The IDF stated that the 'Tatzumot' clinic treats active soldiers with complex clinical profiles, and that 65% of its patients return to service. It also reported that the combat reactions unit has treated over 5,000 new patients, while expanding services to the north and south. The IDF emphasized that the data reflects only clinic patients, and that civilian mental health services exist outside military responsibility. The article presents criticism of the scope of the response and the soldiers' sense of distrust in the system.