Three years of war: how the psyche and health of Israelis have suffered

A report by Clalit Health Services shows a sharp increase in mental disorders among Israelis over three years of war. Emergency visits by children and adolescents rose by 121.3%, anxiety disorder diagnoses increased by 45.5%, and PTSD cases doubled. Evacuated residents of the south and north were particularly affected.

A comprehensive report by Clalit Health Services, covering data from approximately 5 million insured individuals, demonstrates a significant deterioration in the mental and physical health of Israelis over three years of war. The hardest hit were children and adolescents: emergency psychiatric visits among minors increased by 121.3% compared to the pre-war period. In the first year of the conflict, anxiety disorder diagnoses nationwide rose by 45.5%, and PTSD cases doubled. No sharp increase in emergency visits was recorded among adults. Evacuated residents of the southern and northern regions were particularly affected. Among evacuees from the south, PTSD was diagnosed 18 times more often in the first year of the war than before the war. By the third year, this rate had decreased but remains six times higher than pre-war levels. Life in hotels after evacuation negatively impacted physical health: among southerners, the proportion of patients with uncontrolled blood pressure jumped by 53.7%, and among evacuees from the north, cases of high cholesterol increased by about 60%. Among evacuated families from the south, the use of medications for nocturnal enuresis in children rose by 47.8%, and nationwide, demand for ADHD medications increased by 25%. Medical professionals note a positive trend: thanks to a 50% increase in remote consultations in evacuation zones, patients remained in contact with doctors. The overall incidence of heart attacks and strokes did not increase over three years, and emergency room visits decreased. Experts warn that the effects of chronic stress will persist for a long time and predict the need for long-term monitoring of children and evacuees.