Ministry of Defense rehab department assists 6,800 new war victims

The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Defense are teaming up to establish a joint committee aimed at enhancing psychological, emotional, and psychiatric care for IDF veterans with disabilities and families who have lost loved ones.

The committee's main goal is to enhance the availability and quality of mental health services while improving coordination between civilian health providers and military services.

Since October 7, over 6,800 injured military personnel and defense personnel have sought help for both physical injuries and psychological trauma, according to the Department of Defense's Rehabilitation Branch.

Of these new cases, approximately 71% were reservists, with half of them aged 30 or older. Among them, 351 are women, with 303 still hospitalized, and 9% in moderate condition. About 42% suffered limb injuries, while roughly 21% require mental health assistance.

Those wounded during the war in Gaza add to the existing tally of over 11,000 IDF veterans coping with mental and psychiatric issues, with about 8,000 affected by post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Ministry of Defense's Family Support Department, assisting parents, siblings, spouses, and children of victims, also offers psychological support services. Anticipating a surge in demand for mental health care, the Defense Department is proactively collaborating with the Ministry of Health to address this growing need.