In the aftermath of the conflict, the rehabilitation department of the Ministry of Defense has seen a surge in injured military and security personnel seeking help. Over 7,200 victims have come through its doors, with a majority of them being reservists under the age of 30. A significant portion of these victims, about 30%, have developed psychological problems such as difficulty sleeping, anxiety, depression, and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.
The head of the rehabilitation department, Limor Lurie, is expecting the number of new cases to reach 20 thousand by the end of the year. Of these new cases, around 8,000 will require psychological, emotional or psychiatric assistance. In response to this growing need for support, the department’s budget has been increased by 1.9 billion shekels to reach 7.3 billion for the current year.
One key aspect of this increased budget is improving access to psychological and psychiatric care. This includes hiring more psychiatrists experienced in treating combat-related mental disorders and increasing their rates to 700 shekels per case. The department has also recruited 400 emotional therapists to help injured service members cope with their trauma.
In addition to traditional therapy methods, therapy dogs have also been introduced as part of the rehabilitation process. Currently, there are already 155 service dogs provided for therapy and another 140 are currently in training. These measures aim to provide holistic support to those affected by the conflict and aid them on their journey towards recovery.
Lurie believes that these initiatives will help address some of the challenges faced by veterans returning from combat zones and ensure that they receive adequate support during their recovery process.
With an increase in funding for mental health services and a growing awareness about mental health issues among soldiers returning from war zones, it is hoped that this trend will continue in future years so that all those who have served can receive the care they need when they return home.