Nearly one million Israelis have turned to ERAN, the country’s emotional first-aid and mental health support service, since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, according to a report released Tuesday by the nonprofit organization. – (Via Times of Israel)

The organization said calls involving suicidal thoughts, intentions, or actions have risen sharply among teenagers and young adults during the three years since terrorists attacked communities in southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and abducting 251 others to Gaza.

“The three years of war have confronted us with a harsh and ongoing reality,” said David Koren, ERAN’s CEO. “Behind every call for help stands a person grappling with pain, loss, anxiety, loneliness, or burnout — and often a combination of these.”

Although the overall number of requests reached its highest levels during the first two years of the war before declining somewhat in the third, ERAN said the data continues to show significant emotional distress, with loneliness becoming increasingly widespread.

During the three-year period, ERAN’s 1,850 trained volunteers, working with mental health professionals, responded to 928,911 requests for assistance. That total included 774,604 telephone calls and another 154,307 contacts through WhatsApp, online chat, SMS, and email.

In the early stages of the war, many callers were dealing with immediate trauma, panic, and grief. As the conflict continued, those acute reactions increasingly gave way to persistent loneliness and longer-term emotional difficulties.

Loneliness became a growing concern among Israelis generally. It represented approximately 28% of all inquiries during the first year but rose to 41% by the third year, making it the most frequently reported issue. ERAN professionals attributed the trend to the accumulated psychological effects of prolonged uncertainty, pressure on families, and disrupted social routines.

Requests for assistance from children, teenagers, and young adults through age 24 also increased consistently throughout the three years, eventually representing nearly one-quarter of all contacts. Within this age group, calls involving suicidal thoughts, intentions, or actions increased from 2.6% during the first year to 4.4% during the third.

Overall, ERAN received 21,829 suicide-related contacts during the three-year period, accounting for approximately 2.35% of all inquiries.

The share of contacts involving suicidal thoughts, intentions, or actions rose from 2% of all inquiries during the first year to 2.2% in the second and 2.83% in the third.

ERAN officials emphasized that the figures measure only the percentage of hotline contacts in which suicidal issues were raised. They cautioned that the data cannot be used to establish definitive conclusions about changes in actual suicidal behavior across Israel.

According to ERAN, suicidal distress can emerge from a complicated combination of personal circumstances, risk factors, and social or individual characteristics rather than from one specific cause. Still, officials said the continued increase in suicide-related hotline contacts demonstrates the importance of maintaining accessible, long-term mental health support.

The Mental Health Toll on Soldiers

ERAN’s findings also highlighted the psychological burden experienced by Israeli military personnel. During the war, the organization responded to approximately 160,000 calls from active-duty soldiers and reservists, with men making up 60% of those contacts.

Feelings of isolation among military personnel increased substantially. Loneliness represented 41% of military-related inquiries during both the second and third years of the war.

ERAN professionals said soldiers may have difficulty reconciling intense experiences from military service with their return to civilian and family life, potentially leaving them feeling deeply isolated. Reports involving sexual abuse and violence among military personnel also increased, rising from 5% of inquiries in the first year to 10% in the second before declining slightly to 8% in the third.

Anxiety and Trauma-Related Calls Decline

The percentage of inquiries concerning psychological pain, depression, and acute emotional distress fell from a first-year peak of 26.6% to approximately 20% during each of the following two years.

Requests related specifically to anxiety, trauma, and loss also declined, dropping from 18.4% during the first year to 10.6% in the second and 9.6% in the third.

ERAN professionals cautioned that the decline should not be interpreted as proof that Israelis are experiencing less mental distress or that the psychological consequences of the war have ended. Instead, they said, the numbers indicate that the subjects people bring to the hotline have changed over time.

Among Israelis between 35 and 44, a demographic that includes many parents and reservists, the number seeking assistance increased steadily throughout the three-year period. Women represented 56% of inquiries from the general population.

“The report reminds us that precisely within the illusion of routine, it is vital to notice those who are struggling and identify signs of distress,” Shiri Daniels, ERAN’s national professional director, said. She urged the public to “ask people directly about suicide” when concerns arise.

“Listen closely,” Daniels said. “That way, we can offer help before their distress deepens.”