Trauma and Suicide Rise Among Israeli Soldiers — Farms, Hotlines and a Strained System Race to Respond

War’s long shadow: soldiers struggling with trauma and loss

Wrapped around his forearms, the cold skin of a snake helps a former Israeli soldier steady his breathing for a few moments. Nearly 18 months after leaving the army following combat in Gaza, he still experiences flashbacks and panic attacks. Wounded in a Hamas missile strike on his base, he also says two friends — both soldiers in their 20s — died by suicide. He described a central Israeli farm that supports veterans as a lifeline.

Like other former soldiers who spoke to The Associated Press, he requested anonymity to discuss private mental health struggles. After nearly two years of war with Hamas, Israel has seen growing numbers of veterans diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety, along with a noticeable increase in suicides.

Scope of the problem

Israel’s defense ministry reports nearly 11,000 soldiers with so-called "mental health injuries" since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack — more than a third of the roughly 31,000 troops identified with such injuries across Israel’s almost 80-year history. The ministry defines "mental health injuries" to include PTSD, anxiety, depression and related conditions.

Suicides have risen as well. In the decade before the war, the army averaged about 13 soldier suicides per year. Since the war began, last year’s tally rose to 21 soldier suicides, according to army figures covering active-duty and reserve troops (the figures do not count veterans who died by suicide after leaving service). A parliamentary report published recently found that another 279 soldiers attempted suicide and survived between January 2024 and July 2025.

Responses and gaps

The army has mobilized hundreds of mental health officers, sent specialists close to front-line units, opened hotlines and expanded group therapy for soldiers after their service. Still, officials and clinicians warn that the national health system is struggling to meet the scale of need, a shortfall acknowledged by the defense ministry’s Rehabilitation Department.

"There’s now a genuine understanding that psychological injuries have profound consequences and that treatment is both necessary and practical," said Limor Luria, deputy director general and head of the Rehabilitation Department. "We’re seeing a generational difference: while many wounded veterans from previous wars never sought help, today’s wounded are responding very differently."

Grassroots programs: animals, farms and community

Community initiatives such as the Back2Life farm in the Sdot Yam kibbutz have emerged alongside official programs. Co-founded by Assi Nave and dedicated to his friend Amir (Dani) Yardenai — who fought in Gaza in 2014, struggled with severe PTSD and died by suicide last year — Back2Life combines conventional counseling with animal-assisted therapy. Veterans care for rescued animals while receiving peer support, a practice clinicians say can be grounding and help reconnect people to everyday life.

"You need to help them resolve their memories, be able to live in peace with what has happened, and on the other hand to reconnect them to life," psychologist Guy Fluman said, describing the dual aims of therapy and reintegration.

Challenges: stigma, moral injury and long-term needs

Many veterans described difficulty concentrating, maintaining relationships and finding purpose. Some spoke of "moral injury," asking who they are after what they witnessed or did. Stigma around mental health persists in parts of the military, though officials say reducing it is now a priority through public campaigns, commander endorsements and programs tailored to younger veterans.

A 32-year-old reservist who handled body recovery after the Oct. 7 attacks described intrusive smells and flashbacks that disrupted parenthood and daily life. As a trained therapist himself, he recognized PTSD symptoms and sought help; he now assists others in meeting the growing demand.

Looking ahead

Clinicians warn that without sustained, widespread treatment and investment, the long-term social and personal consequences could be severe. "Those victims of war, if not treated, lose the potential for personal and social development and may become a burden on themselves, their families and society," said trauma therapist Tuly Flint.

The combination of military mental-health initiatives and grassroots programs is helping many, but experts say long-term funding, expanded clinical capacity and continued efforts to reduce stigma will be essential to meet the scale of the crisis.

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Editor’s note: This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger or needs help, contact local emergency services. In the U.S., call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org. International helplines are listed at www.iasp.info/suicidalthoughts.