One in three Israelis seek mental health support after two years of war

Israelis have also turned increasingly to self-medication, with purchases of over-the-counter sleep and calming medications rising 14 percent.

By Pesach Benson, TPS

After two years of war, a third of Israelis report needing professional psychological support, highlighting a mounting mental health crisis, according to a comprehensive survey released on Wednesday.

The Israel Health Index 2025, the country’s first nationwide assessment combining public health surveys with objective medical data, paints a troubling picture of a population struggling with the psychological toll of prolonged conflict.

The survey was conducted by Maccabi Health Services, Israel’s second-largest health care provider.

The report describes the need for mental health support as a figure that “continues to climb,” with 17 percent of respondents saying they feel they need help but have not yet sought it.

One in five Israelis now reports dealing with emotional problems such as anxiety, depression, or anger frequently or constantly.

Perhaps most concerning, 40 percent of the population described having only moderate to poor ability to cope with daily problems, suggesting that the war’s psychological impact extends far beyond clinical diagnoses into the fabric of everyday life.

One in four Israelis continues to feel stressed, worried, and anxious even after the ceasefire.

The clinical evidence supports these self-reported struggles. Post-trauma diagnoses have surged 30 percent since 2023, before the current conflict began.

Israelis have also turned increasingly to self-medication, with purchases of over-the-counter sleep and calming medications rising 14 percent.

More than one-third of the population now experiences insomnia at least twice weekly, a potential indicator of anxiety and stress disorders.

Maccabi surveyed 1,100 Israelis from all four of the state’s health maintenance organizations in late October and early November 2025, shortly after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire and the return of living hostages.

The report also drew on medical data from its 2.7 million members. Maccabi provides health care for about one-quarter of the Israeli population.

Mental health has also become the second most searched topic on Maccabi’s health website, with 12 percent of all searches, trailing only pregnancy and childbirth information, the report noted.

Yet paradoxically, the data also reveals a population displaying remarkable resilience.

Despite the mental health challenges, 66 percent of Israelis report high optimism levels, and 62 percent rate their overall health as very good or excellent, a figure the report notes “is in consistent increase.”

Nearly half maintain a healthy lifestyle, also an increasing trend.

This apparent contradiction suggests Israelis are managing to maintain positive outlooks and healthy behaviors even while struggling psychologically.

The 17 percent who acknowledge needing mental health support but have not sought it represent a particularly vulnerable group, potentially due to stigma, lack of access, or simple denial in the face of ongoing challenges, the report added.