Israel’s children and youth saw a sharp increase in mental health struggles since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, according to the annual report of Israel’s National Council for the Child, published last week.
The report showed an alarming 53% increase in suicide attempts among children aged only six to nine.
The findings highlight a sharp increase in mental health struggles, an increase in school dropout rates, and a severe escalation of violence against minors, with medical data showing jumps in the number of minors diagnosed with depression and anxiety over the last two years.
The report shows that 69 children have been murdered since October 7, and throughout the ensuing conflict, including victims of recent events in the north and south. Furthermore, over 1,500 children have been hospitalized for war-related injuries. The reality of the conflict also weighs heavily on the home front, as approximately 275,000 minors are coping with the prolonged absence of a parent serving in the reserves.
These circumstances are clearly reflected in medical data. In the second year of the war, there was a 31% increase in anxiety diagnoses and a 9% increase in depression diagnoses among those aged 12 to 17. The most alarming is a 53% jump in suicide attempts among children aged only 6 to 9. During the same period, more than 7,100 visits by children to psychiatric emergency rooms were recorded, alongside a 25% increase in ER admissions due to alcohol consumption and a 10% increase in visits related to drug use.
A child covers his nose and reacts while participating in the ”biur chametz,” a ritual burning of chametz. (credit: Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images)
A central part of the report focuses on the personal safety of children. Data shows a 12% increase in criminal cases opened for sexual offenses against minors, and a 17% surge in domestic sexual abuse. Additionally, the education system saw a 20% increase in alerts regarding the employment of staff members with criminal records. A similar trend is seen on social networks, with a 30% increase in cyber-related cases involving minor victims.
In the socio-economic field, the rate of children living in poverty climbed to 28%, with gaps being particularly prominent in the Haredi and Arab sectors. The education system is also suffering a blow, with a 30% increase in the dropout rate. Meanwhile, the age at first smartphone exposure dropped to 6.2 years – nearly five years earlier than the previous decade.
Warning of a Deepening Crisis
The CEO of the National Council for the Child, Attorney Vered Windman, explained that the sharp rise in psychiatric diagnoses, accidents, and online harm illustrates the urgent need for government intervention. She noted that although many children show resilience through social involvement and volunteering, public support systems are collapsing under the load.
According to her, true resilience is built through the long-term availability of high-quality services. Windman emphasized that without a substantial increase in the number of psychologists, counselors, and social workers who can identify distress in real time, the state risks widening social gaps and an ongoing threat to the safety of its youth.