2024-02-03 18:00:00
The sudden attack by Hamas on October 7, with its violence and anxiety over the hostages, caused a collective shock among Israeli society, which is experiencing an unprecedented mental health crisis.
A study published in the British medical journal “The Lancet” on January 5 revealed that the entire population of Israel “was exposed, in one way or another, to the repercussions of this attack, which is unprecedented in terms of scope and the horror of the psychological trauma.”
The study touched on a “massive national psychological trauma” due to the number of post-traumatic symptoms and cases of depression and distress, which indicates a “noticeable impact” on the mental health of Israelis.
Since the day Hamas carried out its attack on the streets and homes of southern Israel, the calls received by the Eran emergency line have nearly doubled, according to what Sheri Daniels, the official in charge of this telephone and electronic platform for psychological aid, revealed.
A large poster of Israeli hostages held by Hamas on a wall in Jerusalem on Friday (AFP)
The unprecedented Hamas attack on October 7 resulted in the deaths of more than 1,160 people, according to an Agence France-Presse count based on the latest Israeli official figures.
In response to the attack, Israel pledged to eliminate the movement, and has since carried out a devastating bombing campaign followed by ground operations since October 27, killing 27,238 people, most of them women and children, according to the latest tally of the Hamas Ministry of Health.
About 250 people were kidnapped during the Hamas attack and transferred to the Gaza Strip, according to the Israeli authorities. 132 of them are still being held hostages, while the Israeli army announced that 27 of them were killed.
This attack shocked Israel in an unprecedented way, and the fate of the 132 hostages continues to disturb the lives of Israelis.
In addition to the survivors who suffered both things, “very wide circles of vulnerability” were formed, according to Daniels, who touched on the situation of the ambulance personnel, the police, and the families of the victims and hostages, and “everyone in Israel sympathizes with the victims.”
“The biggest crisis”
Daniels pointed to the situation of children who do not leave their families when night falls, or adults who are so anxious and consumed with remorse over their inability to save their relatives that they are unable to concentrate.
The Director-General of the Ministry of Health, Moshe Bar Siman Tov, revealed that out of an estimated population of 9.7 million people, 100,000 have been exposed to accidents that may cause psychological trauma since October 7, and about 200,000 people have been displaced.
Health Minister Uriel Busso said that the State of Israel, which was established in 1948, is simply facing “the largest mental health crisis in its history,” noting that the sector was already suffering from a “huge gap.”
An Israeli demonstration near the Ministry of Defense in Tel Aviv to demand action to release hostages held by Hamas on Thursday (AFP)
In 2022, 30 percent of Israeli teenagers suffered from psychosomatic disorders, according to the World Health Organization, which linked this matter to the effects of the “Covid-19” pandemic.
Today, the actual assessment of psychological needs is still premature, as the latter only become apparent after exposure to the trigger factor, and are not taken into account unless they continue for more than a month, according to what psychologist Milka Adraee of the One Family Association, which provides assistance to victims of attacks, explained. in Israel.
However, exposure to the event continues, as almost every Israeli family includes a soldier among its members, whether permanent or reserve soldiers who participate in operations in Gaza. 224 of them died in battle.
In light of the worsening needs and the severe shortage of specialists, the Israeli government announced a recruitment campaign, and decided in mid-January to grant additional resources to the mental health sector worth 1.4 billion shekels (more than 350 million euros).
Civil society is mobilizing to confront this situation. Virtual reality helmets have been used for therapeutic purposes. The minors who were released from detention in November received unprecedented care at the Schneider Center in Tel Aviv.
“We are trying to fill the loopholes in the system,” says Sheri Daniels.
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