For the first time, the number of disabled IDF soldiers treated at the Ministry of Defense's Rehabilitation Division since 1948 has surpassed the monumental number of 70,000. A significant 35% of these new patients are grappling with mental health issues, with this being the primary injury for 21% of them.
As reported by Israel National News, the division sees over a thousand new cases monthly, with more than 6,500 requests for recognition of injuries from previous conflicts having been received in recent months. In response, it has implemented a comprehensive package of immediate medical and psychological care for all wounded soldiers.
This includes specially trained counseling programs for those dealing with mental health challenges and PTSD, featuring nine rehabilitation farms, mobile observation teams for initial mental counseling nationwide, the intake of 400 therapists, and the launch of the PTSD Guide App.
There are already 8,663 wounded men and women just since October 7th and the rehabilitation division expects that number to reach 20,000 by the end of December of 2024.
95% of the wounded are men, 70% are reservists, and about 50% are aged between 18 and 30. In addition, out of the 70,000 disabled IDF soldiers from all Israeli wars currently receiving treatment in the rehabilitation division, 9,539 are coping with PTSD and related mental health conditions.
The stark reality is that the current available resources are simply too few to deal with the sheer number of those grappling with severe physical and mental scars, and the Ministry of Defense continues to face an influx of wounded soldiers, with no immediate plan to change the situation.
