Report Reveals Sharp Rise in Israeli Teacher Burnout and Friction with Parents
A new report by the Forum of Organizations for Public Psychology reveals that 88% of Israeli educational psychologists report a rise in teacher distress, driven by prolonged wartime stress and a sharp increase in conflicts with parents.
The ongoing security crisis and prolonged national instability in Israel have exacted a heavy psychological toll on educational staff, leaving teachers to grapple with severe burnout, anxiety, and a sense of helplessness. A new report by the Forum of Organizations for Public Psychology, based on a survey of 310 educational and youth psychologists, reveals a sharp rise in distress among teachers and school staff who are expected to serve as emotional anchors for students while managing their own personal trauma and family anxieties.
Rising Distress and Professional Burnout
According to the report, 88% of educational psychologists reported that teachers shared feelings of increased distress this year, up from 85.5% in the previous year. Educational staff are forced to maintain a facade of resilience and routine for their students while internally struggling with the continuous pressure of the security situation, reserve duty obligations, and personal grief.
Dr. Karni Gigi, an educational psychologist and co-leader of the Forum of Organizations for Public Psychology, explained that educators are facing increasingly complex behavioral, emotional, and social challenges among students, including severe bullying, social boycotts, and inappropriate sexual behavior.
Dr. Gigi stated:
"The past summer, which was accompanied by threats of an escalation with Iran, flooded and intensified these difficult feelings. Every threat and wave of instability strikes in wide circles, shaking children, destabilizing families, and placing a heavy emotional burden on educational staff who are required to maintain routine for everyone."
Escalating Friction with Parents
The report highlights a dramatic surge in conflicts between teachers and parents. In 2024, 49.3% of psychologists noted difficulties in teacher-parent relations. This figure rose to 68.5% in 2025, and has now reached 79.3%.
Psychologists warn that while children desperately need a strong alliance between the adults in their lives during times of crisis, the extreme stress experienced by both parents and educators often leads to mutual misunderstanding and escalation.
Key Findings and Calls for Action
The survey of educational psychologists outlined the primary issues raised by school staff:
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79.3% reported difficulties and friction in relations between educational staff and parents.
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64.2% received inquiries regarding the mental distress of staff members, including depression, anxiety, and stress.
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36.2% reported friction between school management and the general teaching staff.
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31.9% sought assistance for processing traumatic wartime events.
The Forum of Organizations for Public Psychology concluded that there is an urgent need for a multi-year national plan to strengthen public psychology services, increase staffing standards, and provide the necessary resources to support both educators and students across Israel.
