Clalit Report Details Severe Mental and Physical Toll After Three Years of War
A comprehensive Clalit report reveals a 121% surge in youth psychiatric visits and persistent PTSD rates among evacuees after three years of war, highlighting deep physical and mental health tolls.
Three years into the war, Clalit Health Services has published a comprehensive report based on data from approximately 5 million insured individuals, revealing severe cumulative impacts on public health. The findings show a staggering 121% surge in psychiatric emergency room visits among children and teenagers, while post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) rates among evacuees from the southern border remain six times higher than normal.
Physical and Mental Health Toll
The report highlights significant physical health deterioration alongside psychological trauma. Among evacuees from the south, cases of unmanaged high blood pressure rose by 53.7%, while northern evacuees experienced a roughly 60% increase in hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol) diagnoses. Furthermore, prescriptions for bedwetting medication among southern children jumped by nearly 60%.
Shift Toward Telemedicine
Healthcare consumption patterns have also transformed dramatically. In-person medical consultations dropped by approximately 13%, whereas telephone and virtual consultations increased by 36%. Among evacuees from both northern and southern regions, this shift was even more pronounced, with a 50% rise in remote medical encounters.
"Three years of war have exacted a heavy toll on Israel. Alongside the physical and psychological casualties among IDF soldiers and security forces, our data reveal the compounding damage inflicted upon civilian society," said Clalit CEO Prof. Eitan Wirtheim.
Dr. Yarden Levinsky, head of Clalit's mental health division, noted a 28% increase in demand for mental health services, emphasizing that chronic anxiety and trauma continue to impair daily functioning across wide segments of the population long after the initial crisis.
