TEL AVIV — The Israel Defense Forces has achieved a major victory in safeguarding the mental well-being of its conscripts. Since 2006, suicide risk among active-duty soldiers has fallen below civilian levels, thanks to a robust prevention program led by Prof Eyal Fruchter. However, a concerning rise in deaths among reservists underscores a critical gap in mental health protections, he said.
Now serving as director of medical and scientific affairs at ICAR Collective, Israel’s Collective Action for Resilience, Prof Fruchter called for urgent adaptations to include reservists in preventive measures. “We managed so far to lower the number of suicides in the military by 63 percent,” he told The Media Line. “But since the outbreak of the October 7 war, the prevention program must be re-adapted for reserve force mission soldiers.”
Fruchter warned that reservists face unique pressures such as prolonged deployment, family strain, and financial disruption. “When the civilian world is not in charge of you yet, and the military world is not in charge of you anymore, that is a big crack that needs to be solved,” he said.
ICAR Collective is stepping up to fill this critical gap. The nonprofit is coordinating trauma recovery efforts across Israel’s public health and academic sectors. In its first year, it mapped over 400 organizations, convened 300 experts, and directed more than US$15 million to mental health initiatives, including a national psycho-education campaign slated to reach over 10 million Israelis.
Prof Fruchter outlined several key steps already underway: reservists with PTSD are no longer automatically sent back to combat, and commanders and soldiers are being trained to recognize signs of crisis and to provide immediate support. He emphasized the importance of embedding mental health professionals within all units and expanding therapy access and reintegration services. “Most soldiers will not develop PTSD or suicidal thoughts,” he said, “but every life must be protected.”
For the pro-Israel, Jewish, and Zionist community, these measures reaffirm Israel’s commitment to the well-being of its defenders. Strengthening mental health resilience is essential to preserving solidarity and securing the nation’s future in times of crisis.
This article is based on verified information from The Media Line, ICAR Collective, and The Times of Israel.