7,000 soldiers face psychological disability as reservists seek care abroad
Thousands of reservists are traveling overseas for treatment while the IDF admits to capacity limits in its domestic mental health clinics.
By Luana Sato ·
More than 7,000 Israeli soldiers have been officially recognized with psychological disabilities resulting from service, according to estimates from the IDF and the Defense Ministry’s Rehabilitation Department. Most of these service members are combat troops who have completed deployments since the war began nearly three years ago.
Reservists report that the military’s mental health infrastructure is struggling to meet the rising demand. Thousands of reservists are now traveling abroad to receive treatment from private nonprofit organizations and join specialized workshops. One source familiar with the issue stated that the IDF should have initiated a formal process with these private bodies to minimize gaps in diagnosis, oversight, and treatment.
A distinct gap exists between the support available to regular-service soldiers and that available to reservists. Regular soldiers receive ongoing assistance, while reservists typically access limited help only near the end of their deployments. Military sources serving in the reserves argue that once they return to civilian life, the military considers its responsibility complete. This leaves them to manage bureaucracy and thin support services independently.
The IDF Medical Corps manages two primary units for this care: the Ta’atzumot Clinic and the Combat Stress Reaction Unit. The Ta’atzumot Clinic reports that approximately 65% of its patients return to service. However, sources question whether this figure represents the full scope of recovery or only those who reached the front line of treatment. The Combat Stress Reaction Unit has treated more than 5,000 new patients and has widened access in northern and southern Israel.
The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit stated that the military has expanded the capacity and quality of its services since the war began. New clinics have opened across the country, and a 24-hour hotline operates seven days a week. The unit also added that it does not wait for soldiers to seek help, instead identifying potential cases through structured debriefing sessions immediately following operational deployments.
The Medical Corps said the Ta’atzumot Clinic has grown its staff and added occupational therapy, a track for career personnel, and an intensive outpatient program. Treatment at this clinic focuses on rehabilitation and assessing whether a soldier can continue serving. The unit noted that its patients generally have complex conditions that cannot be managed within their units.
The IDF introduced a framework called the “Service Cycle” to address the impact of reserve deployments. This approach reflects the view that reserve service is no longer a fixed period followed by discharge, but a condition that can affect reservists, their families, and their units throughout the year.
