Clalit reports 121% rise in Israeli children's psychiatric ER visits since Oct. 7

October 4, 2026 at 07:51 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Children and teenagers in Israel made 121 percent more visits to psychiatric emergency departments after the outbreak of the war on October 7, 2023, than in the two years before it, according to a report by Clalit Health Services. Anxiety disorder diagnoses rose 45.5 percent and PTSD diagnoses doubled during three years of war. The increases were particularly pronounced among people displaced from communities in southern and northern Israel.

Key Facts

Clalit Health Services, Israel's largest healthcare provider, found a 45.5 percent increase in anxiety disorder diagnoses and a doubling in PTSD diagnoses during the three years of war.
In the first year of the war, PTSD diagnoses among residents evacuated from communities near the Gaza border were 18 times higher than before the war.
The rate of PTSD diagnoses among Gaza border evacuees remained 11 times higher in the second year and six times higher in the third year.
The report also pointed to worsening physical health among Israelis, including increases in high blood pressure and cholesterol.

Mental Health Impact

The report by Clalit Health Services examined changes in health and medical service use during the three years of war. Anxiety disorder diagnoses increased by 45.5 percent and PTSD diagnoses doubled, with both increases persisting throughout the war. The increases were particularly pronounced among people displaced from communities in southern and northern Israel.

Displaced Populations

In the first year of the war, the number of PTSD diagnoses among residents evacuated from communities near the Gaza border was 18 times higher than before the war. The rate remained 11 times higher in the second year and six times higher in the third year, the report found. Dr. Yarden Levinsky, director of Clalit's mental health division, said the figures do not necessarily mean that the trauma occurred shortly before the diagnosis.

Expert Analysis

Levinsky said some of those seeking treatment may be suffering from trauma directly related to the October 7 massacre. He said new diagnoses rose sharply after the war began and have remained high, as repeated traumatic events have prevented much of the public from returning to normal. Levinsky said the rise in PTSD cases has far-reaching consequences for Israeli society, with many sufferers struggling to function as they did before.