Neria Yuval, Markowitz John C, Amsalem Doron, Levi-Belz Yossi, Roe David, Lurie Ido, Bitan Dana Tzur, Wainberg Milton L, Mendlovic Shlomo
New York State Psychiatric Institute, Department of Psychiatry, 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, NY, USA.
Isr J Health Policy Res. 2025 Apr 16;14(1):25. doi: 10.1186/s13584-025-00682-8.
The October 7, 2023 terrorist attack and subsequent war in Israel have created an unprecedented mental health crisis. This commentary examines emerging data on the psychological impact of these events and argues for a paradigm shift in the Israeli mental healthcare system.
Recent studies reveal a dramatic increase in PTSD, depression, and anxiety among the Israeli populace. These findings underscore the long-lasting and pervasive nature of psychological trauma. Certain populations are disproportionately affected: women, ethnic minorities (particularly Israeli Arabs, who comprise 18.1% of the population), and those experiencing traumatic loss, displacement, or economic hardship. These groups require prioritized and tailored interventions. While existing outcome research provides a solid foundation for treating common trauma-related disorders like PTSD, depression, and anxiety, the Israeli mental health system is ill-equipped to handle the surge in demand. Too many clinicians lack training in evidence-based trauma therapies and standardized assessments. To address this gap, we advocate a system-wide transformation. This involves widespread training in evidence-based assessments and time- limited therapies, a focus on precision psychiatry tailored to individual needs, and the implementation of task-shifting and task-sharing models to expand access to care.
These strategies are crucial for mitigating the long-term mental health consequences of the October 7th attacks and fostering individual and societal resilience. Failure to act decisively will exacerbate the existing crisis, placing further strain on individuals, families, and Israeli society as a whole.
2023年10月7日的恐怖袭击及随后在以色列爆发的战争造成了一场前所未有的心理健康危机。本评论文章审视了关于这些事件心理影响的新数据，并主张以色列的精神卫生保健系统应进行范式转变。
近期研究显示，以色列民众中创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）、抑郁症和焦虑症显著增加。这些发现凸显了心理创伤的持久性和普遍性。某些人群受到的影响尤为严重：女性、少数族裔（特别是占人口18.1%的以色列阿拉伯人）以及经历创伤性损失、流离失所或经济困难的人群。这些群体需要优先获得并接受量身定制的干预措施。虽然现有的结果研究为治疗PTSD、抑郁症和焦虑症等常见创伤相关疾病提供了坚实基础，但以色列的心理健康系统却无力应对需求的激增。太多临床医生缺乏循证创伤治疗和标准化评估方面的培训。为弥补这一差距，我们主张进行全系统变革。这包括开展广泛的循证评估和限时治疗培训，关注针对个体需求的精准精神病学，并实施任务转移和任务分担模式以扩大医疗服务的可及性。
这些策略对于减轻10月7日袭击造成的长期心理健康后果以及增强个人和社会的复原力至关重要。若不果断采取行动，将加剧现有危机，给个人、家庭乃至整个以色列社会带来更大压力。
