On Saturday, October 7, 2023, Israel experienced the most traumatic sequence of events in its history, a murderous terrorist attack that affected thousands of families across the country and cast a heavy and threatening shadow over the entire Israeli society. That day, the journey to restore our mental health began.
During that Sabbath, 3,500 distress calls were received at ERAN’s helplines. A 700% increase in the number of calls compared to a regular Sabbath.
Hundreds of calls from residents of southern Israel trapped in reinforced security room , soldiers on bases, young people hiding in the area of the Nova party, and thousands of calls from worried family members from all over the country.
ERAN’s staff and hundreds of volunteers manned the helplines throughout that Black Sabbath and during the difficult days that followed.
Each call was a heartbreaking cry for help, a personal story of trauma, loss, and vulnerability.
October 2023 – October 2025
The “Iron Swords” war in which the state of Israel is involved, is the most difficult and complex period we have known as a country, a period that has had and continues to have a profound impact on the mental well-being of all citizens of the state.
In the first weeks and months after the outbreak of the “Iron Swords” war, ERAN’s training teams held numerous trainings and activities in collaboration with the “Israeli Coalition for Trauma” in evacuated hotels, for various aid organizations across the country, and are working continuously in collaboration with the IDF Mental Health Division to provide assistance and help to all regular and reserve soldiers who contact us.
In addition, in vital cooperation with the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, we activated a professional mental health assistance service for new immigrants in five languages: English, Russian, Amharic, French and Spanish.
The anxiety, trauma, loss, and loneliness have permeated every corner of our lives, leaving a deep mark on us. The data indicates a worrying increase in mental distress, which is expressed not only in anxiety and fear, but also in deep loneliness and ongoing mental pain. The war has affected and continues to affect every aspect of our lives – our relationships, our sense of security, and the way we perceive the world and ourselves within it. It raises difficult questions in us about the meaning of our lives and our future in Israeli society as a whole.
A stable routine, along with sensitivity to signs of distress and the need for support, are the order of the day.
In the first month of the war, the number of people contacting the ERAN’s helplines regarding anxiety, trauma, and loss was significantly higher than average (60%).
The difficult events that struck the country had a direct and painful impact on Israeli society.
During wartime, soldiers are exposed to extreme experiences of trauma and loss, which can leave a deep mark on their psyche. Battles, violence, and the loss of comrades are just some of the challenges they face. These difficulties can manifest in a wide range of symptoms, such as anxiety, depression, sleep problems, difficulty forming relationships, and anger.
The need for mental health support for soldiers during wartime is critical. However, many find it difficult to seek help due to fear of social stigma, a reluctance to be perceived as weak, or concerns about the impact on their military service. The existence of anonymous support, which allows soldiers to reveal their innermost feelings without fear of judgment, is essential. Such a safe space can be a turning point for many soldiers, helping them cope with the consequences of their service.
During wartime, when life is marked by uncertainty and stress, parents are forced to confront unique challenges. The worry about their children’s safety, the need to explain complex events, and the pressure of maintaining a routine under difficult circumstances, impose a heavy emotional burden on parents. Accessible and available support, around the clock, helps parents feel less alone, gain tools for coping with the situation, and provide their children with the protected space they need.
The evacuees from their homes experience a deep existential crisis during the war. The forced displacement, the fear of the future, the uncertainty and lack of control, together with the disconnection from the familiar routine, shake their world. Calls to the hotline attest to their need for empathic listening and connection to resources and hope. The connection to strength and resilience will help them rebuild their lives and cope with the emotional and practical challenges facing them.
Children and adolescents turned to ERAN during the war mainly around content dealing with anxiety, trauma and loss.
More than 40% of their calls dealt with these. About a third of the calls dealt with difficulties around relationships and feelings of loneliness.
20% of the calls dealt with emotional pain, depression and acute emotional distress.
During wartime, Holocaust survivors sometimes experience renewed trauma, flooding painful memories of the past. The security escalation, the loud noises, and the bad news may bring them back to the camps and the loss they experienced. Holocaust survivors’ calls to the hotline reflect their deep need for emotional support, listening and connecting with people who will understand the complexity of the trauma they carry. They share their anxiety, depression and intense loneliness. In addition, they worry about their family members and the younger generation and fear that history will repeat itself.
