Evacuation of wounded by Mobility Unit 5515 and Unit 669 in Khan Yunis, February 18, 2024/IDF Spokesperson
With the coming of Passover and in preparation for Memorial Day and Independence Day, the Reconstruction Division of the Ministry of Defense is concluding today (Wednesday) half a year since October 7. The wing presents, among other things, very difficult data, with 7,209 new wounded who were taken in by the wing, who now join the existing 62,000 disabled IDF.
From the published data, it appears that 29% of the wounded in the Iron Swords War, which is 2,111 in number, developed a mental reaction to their injury. Out of those wounded, for about 60% of them, 1,227 wounded, the main injury is the mental injury.
As of today, about 11,000 disabled IDF soldiers are dealing with mental reactions, and about 70% of them are dealing with various degrees of post-trauma. If so, what will happen in 2024? According to estimates, about 20,000 wounded people are expected to be taken in during the year as a result of the war. About 40% of those newly injured are expected to face various mental reactions.
Deputy Director and Head of the Rehabilitation Division at the Ministry of Defense, Limor Luria, spoke today about the status of the treatment of the war wounded with an emphasis on those dealing with mental injuries. Adaptation difficulties, communication difficulties, psychotic states," she said, "This war created needs we didn't know about."
Every day, Luria explains that 70% of the wounded of the Iron Swords War are reservists. "From the moment they enter us. It doesn't matter to us where and where he was injured, if he is regular on a regular basis or on a regular basis, we do prepare for that," Luria said, "Milwaniks also often come to us with family members. We estimate that there are another 14,000 family members who have joined our circle of treatments. They need to be treated as well and not just the wounded themselves and the challenge is huge. There is a difficulty in recruiting doctors and also staff members to the periphery. There is still a shortage of standards and we are filling the ranks these days."
Luria emphasizes that the branch of psychiatry was in severe shortage even before the war, and now the difficulties are only becoming more severe. "We are already in intensive meetings with the Ministry of Health because this is a challenge not only for the rehabilitation division, it is a national challenge," she explains, "the Ministry of Health is already preparing to increase the number of psychiatrists and also to train doctors who will provide drug treatments. Training for family doctors will also be carried out, and a broader response will be provided , it's a challenge for us." She says that the psychiatric treatment fee for the injured was increased from NIS 260 to NIS 700. It was also decided that it is necessary to establish a dedicated hospital ward for the IDF wounded.
Among other things, Luria referred to the reports regarding the wounded Nova soldiers who do not receive treatment. She referred the question to the IDF because, according to her, they are not its responsibility. "As long as they are in the service they are under the responsibility of the IDF and receive full treatment, as soon as they are released they enter the rehabilitation wing and currently they are under the responsibility of the IDF. They did not reach us."
She also said that unique services will be provided to the wing as part of the preparations for the holiday season, such as an innovative and first-of-its-kind service, during which people with post-traumatic stress disorder or patients will reach the mentally challenged who need first aid to calm the situation instead of the police. In this way, it will be possible to provide dedicated assistance to the wounded and their family members, including all the disabled in the IDF. In addition, there will be an emergency response team and initial mental support, a safe house and a balance house, the rehabilitation farms spread throughout the country, and the One Helpline - the helpline is available 24/7 for the wounded and their children. their families.
Luria emphasized that the rehabilitation department's budget currently stands at NIS 5.3 billion and according to estimates, by the end of the year it will have to be increased to NIS 7.3 billion. "The more injured people come in, the more the budget will increase accordingly, we have no limit," she noted.
Luria was asked how it is possible to explain why there are more post-traumatic wounded in this war than before. "We don't define everyone as suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Everyone who comes to us, even if they are physically injured, has a mental reaction and is entitled to psychological treatments," she explained, "There is more awareness and more desire to treat the injured as early as possible. As soon as they contact us, we They are immediately given all the treatments so that they do not enter a post-traumatic state."