Addressing the Rising Need for Mental Health Support: How Israel’s Ministry of Defense is Stepping Up to Help Military and Security Personnel

From the start of the war, the Ministry of Defense’s rehabilitation department has been overwhelmed with injuries sustained by military and security personnel. Over 7,200 victims have sought help from the department, with a majority being reservists under the age of 30. Out of these victims, nearly 30% have developed psychological problems such as insomnia, anxiety, depression and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.

In anticipation of an increase in cases this year, the head of the rehabilitation department, Limor Lurie predicts that by the end of 2021, there will be approximately 20 thousand new cases requiring attention. About 8,000 of these victims are expected to require psychological or psychiatric assistance. To accommodate this growing number of victims, the department’s budget has been increased by a significant amount to 7.3 billion shekels from its original allocation of 5.4 billion shekels.

A major part of this increase in funding is allocated towards improving access to psychological and psychiatric care for patients. This includes hiring additional psychiatrists experienced in treating mental disorders related to combat. The rates for these specialists have also been raised to 700 shekels per case to ensure they receive fair compensation for their services. In addition, the department has recruited over 400 emotional therapists who will help injured service members cope with their trauma and provide them with emotional support during their recovery process.

As part of the rehabilitation process, therapy dogs have also been introduced with over 155 already given out for therapy and another 140 currently undergoing training. These measures are aimed at providing holistic support to victims and helping them on their journey towards recovery.

In conclusion, as more soldiers and security personnel continue to seek help from the rehabilitation department due to injuries sustained during conflict, it is clear that additional resources are needed to meet their needs effectively