As the war continues, the rehabilitation department of the Ministry of Defense is seeing an increase in the number of injured military and security personnel seeking help. Most of these victims are reservists under the age of 30. Among them, about 30% have developed psychological problems such as difficulty sleeping, anxiety, depression, and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.
According to Limor Lurie, head of the rehabilitation department, this trend is expected to continue throughout the year. By the end of 2021, she predicts that there will be around 20 thousand new cases in the department requiring psychological, emotional or psychiatric assistance. To accommodate this growing number of victims, the department’s budget has been increased by 1.9 billion shekels to reach a total of 7.3 billion for the current year.
One way that this increased budget is being used is to improve access to psychological and psychiatric care for injured service members. This includes hiring more psychiatrists experienced in treating combat-related mental disorders and increasing their rates to 700 shekels per case. In addition, emotional therapists have been recruited to provide support to those coping with trauma from their injuries.
Therapy dogs have also been introduced as part of the rehabilitation process with over 155 already given to victims for therapy and another 140 currently in training. These measures aim to provide holistic support to those affected by conflict and help them on their journey towards recovery.
The rehabilitation department is committed to ensuring that all injured military and security personnel receive the care they need during this challenging time for our country. With ongoing efforts from government officials and healthcare professionals alike, we can continue working towards a future where those who serve our nation are able to heal both physically and mentally from their wounds on return from battlefield duty.