Reservists turn to foreign therapists
Thousands of Israeli soldiers are seeking treatment abroad as military mental health services face a surge in demand following nearly three years of conflict.
By Elijah Fitzgerald ·
Reservists warn that the Israeli military and the Defense Ministry are struggling to manage a rising volume of personnel seeking mental health support. After nearly three years of intense combat across multiple fronts, thousands of soldiers who have completed long deployments are traveling overseas. They are joining workshops and receiving care from private nonprofit organizations.
One source said the Israel Defense Forces should partner more closely with these external groups to standardize care. The source stated, "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 argued that this collaboration would reduce inconsistencies in how patients are evaluated and treated.
A distinct gap exists between regular-service soldiers and reserve personnel. Regular troops receive ongoing support, while reservists typically get limited help only near the end of their tours. Military sources in the reserves claim that once reservists return to civilian life, the military considers its duty complete. This leaves the personnel to manage bureaucracy and thin support services independently.
Specialists project that the psychological impact will intensify in coming years. Estimates from the IDF and the Defense Ministry's Rehabilitation Department suggest tens of thousands of soldiers, primarily reservists, will develop post-traumatic stress disorder. More than 7,000 soldiers, most of them combat troops, have already been officially recognized as having psychological disabilities resulting from their service.
The IDF Medical Corps operates the Ta'atzumot Clinic and the Combat Stress Reaction Unit. Sources indicate that the capacity of these services has not kept pace with current demand. A trend has emerged where combat soldiers and reservists bypass the military system to seek private providers or alternative programs abroad. The Ta'atzumot Clinic reports that about 65% of its patients return to service, a figure sources question as potentially incomplete.
The IDF Spokesperson's Unit responded that the military has expanded its capacity and quality of services since the war began. New clinics have opened across Israel, and a 24-hour hotline operates seven days a week. The unit stated that it does not wait for soldiers to report symptoms but identifies needs through structured debriefing sessions with units immediately after operations.
The Combat Stress Reaction Unit has treated more than 5,000 new patients and has widened access in northern and southern Israel. The Medical Corps added that it has built a framework called the "Service Cycle" to reflect the continuous nature of reserve deployments. This approach aims to support reservists, their families, and their units throughout the year rather than only during mobilization.
