For nearly two years, Israel’s active-duty and reserve soldiers have been living under constant tension, never knowing what tomorrow will bring. Behind the facade of daily routine and the headlines from the front lies an exhausting reality: a growing wave of psychological injuries, soldiers breaking down from within, and families trapped in a relentless struggle of worry, anxiety, and emotional fatigue.
According to data from the Defense Ministry, the Rehabilitation Department is currently treating more than 17,000 injured individuals, of whom around 9,000 have applied for recognition as psychological casualties, and 3,769 have already been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder – a scale unseen since the Yom Kippur War. Both the military and civilian mental health systems are collapsing under the pressure.
Soldiers wait months for an appointment with a military psychologist, each of whom is responsible for an average of over 4,000 soldiers, a figure that illustrates the severe imbalance between the demand for treatment and the system’s ability to provide it.
The importance of mental health care
Mental health care is not only a moral necessity but also an economic one. A soldier officially recognized as suffering from PTSD is classified as a lifelong disabled veteran, with an average treatment cost of roughly NIS 10 million until the age of 86. By contrast, early preventive treatment, such as that provided by the Barak Association’s “Or KeYahal” initiative, costs only about NIS 18,000 per person. The economic logic is clear: Every soldier who receives timely care can save the state millions.
Yet instead of accelerating solutions, Israel continues to impose heavy regulatory burdens on the psychology profession. The path to becoming a clinical psychologist is long and cumbersome – a degree, internship, supervision, and multiple exams. It’s a process that takes years and creates a serious entry barrier. The result is fewer practicing psychologists, longer waiting times, rising prices, and increased reliance on nonprofits trying to fill the gap.
While countries like Canada and New Zealand have simplified licensing procedures and offer tax incentives for those treating vulnerable populations, Israel does little to encourage public treatment. A simple, effective example could be granting half a tax credit to any psychologist who treats three soldiers or reservists per year. The cost to the state would be negligible – but the benefit, immense.
As the fighting winds down, the military mental health system faces a new challenge. During the war, reserve mental health officers worked with extraordinary dedication. But now, as the system scales back, investment in soldiers’ psychological recovery becomes even more critical. At present, waiting times for treatment in combat units are among the shortest in the IDF, yet there is concern this progress will vanish once personnel numbers decline.
Creating a new model
Meanwhile, the Barak Association operates hundreds of civilian therapists through the Or KeYahal initiative, demonstrating that cooperation between the state and the civil sector can deliver faster, more efficient, and far more cost-effective results than government mechanisms. This model should become national policy:
- Tax incentives for private therapists – tax credits for those treating soldiers and war casualties.
- Accelerated psychologist training – temporary licenses or flexible supervision for interns, similar to the British model.
- Formal partnerships with nonprofits – joint funding agreements with proven organizations in the field.
- Investment in early preventive care – reallocating budgets from late-stage rehabilitation to prevention.
- Economic measurement of outcomes – a national index assessing the financial savings of early intervention.
It is time to change the mindset: Mental health care is not an expense but a first-rate economic investment. If Israel truly wishes to confront the post-war wave of trauma, it must ease regulation, empower therapists, and engage the civil sector as a genuine partner. Timely treatment doesn’t just save lives – it saves the nation’s economy.
The writer is chairman of the Barak Association, Armored Brigade 188.