Reservists Seek Therapy Abroad as IDF Capacity Lags
More than 7,000 soldiers are recognized with psychological disabilities as the IDF reports expanded mental health services.
By Marco Whitaker ·
The Israeli Defense Forces and the Defense Ministry cannot keep pace with reservists seeking mental health care after nearly three years of combat, reservists familiar with the issue said.
Thousands of reservists who completed long deployments are traveling abroad to join workshops and receive treatment from private nonprofit organizations. One source argued that the IDF should work with these groups to keep standards consistent.
"It would have been preferable for the IDF to initiate a process with the nonprofit organizations and private bodies to minimize the gaps in diagnosis, oversight, and ultimately treatment," the source said.
Reservists describe a gap between regular-service soldiers and reserve personnel. Regular-service soldiers receive ongoing support, they said, while reservists usually get limited help near the end of their deployments. Military sources serving in reserves said that once reservists have "become civilians," the military considers its responsibility fulfilled.
Estimates from the IDF and the Defense Ministry's Rehabilitation Department suggest tens of thousands of soldiers, mostly reservists, will develop PTSD because of the war. More than 7,000 soldiers, most of them combat troops, have been officially recognized with psychological disabilities from service. One specialist warned that psychological shockwaves among hundreds of thousands of combat soldiers and reservists "are only beginning and are expected to intensify in the coming years."
The IDF Medical Corps operates the Ta'atzumot Clinic and the Combat Stress Reaction Unit. Sources said demand has outpaced capacity while fighting continues. They described a trend of combat soldiers and reservists going to private providers, nonprofits and overseas programs instead of the military's system. The Ta'atzumot Clinic reports about 65% of patients return to service, though sources questioned whether that figure covers only those who reached the front line of treatment.
The IDF Spokesperson's Unit said mental health care is a priority and that capacity has expanded since the war began. New clinics have opened across Israel, and a 24-hour hotline operates seven days a week. The military said it identifies soldiers who may need help through debriefing sessions with units after operational deployments.
The Ta'atzumot Clinic added staff, occupational therapy, a track for career personnel, and an intensive outpatient program. The Combat Stress Reaction Unit has taken on more than 5,000 new patients, kept waiting times short, and widened access in northern and southern Israel, the IDF said. The Medical Corps said periodic surveys show most patients are satisfied.
Israeli law generally bars the IDF from treating civilians, except through the Combat Stress Reaction Unit. The Medical Corps said it does not oppose releasing data on personnel with combat stress reactions and that such figures appear in scientific publications. After almost three years of reserve deployments, the IDF has built a framework called the "Service Cycle" to address reservist needs throughout the year.
