75% decrease in the number of suicides in the IDF | Israel Today

According to a report presented at the IDF Personnel Subcommittee, the decline was recorded following a dedicated program to prevent suicide in the military • Most suicides are men during compulsory service

• Soldiers in the Golan Heights, about three weeks ago (photographers have no connection to the article)

  Photography: 

  Eyal Margolin, Ginny

The number of suicides in the IDF in 2020 decreased by 75%, this was revealed in a discussion held today (Tuesday) at the IDF Subcommittee on Personnel's activities to eradicate suicides.

According to a report by the State Comptroller last year, presented at the hearing by the head of the IDF, Maj. Gen. Moti Almoz, the decline was recorded following a dedicated suicide prevention program that the IDF began operating from last year. Despite the impressive figures, nine soldiers ended their lives during 2020. The report shows that most suicides in the military are of men during compulsory service, most of whom were not treated under conditions of service.

Maj. Gen. Almoz told the committee, headed by MK Orna Barbibai (Yesh Atid), that in any case of suspicion of suicide or attempted suicide, an MPI investigation is opened, currently conducted by a dedicated unit dealing with operational investigations and suicide incidents across the country. Knowledge also in interrogation, both in working with the State Attorney's Office and in working with families.

"The loss of a soldier is a disaster that the family is facing, and we come to them during the first month and ask them for possible directions, as knowledge, not just as evidence, and we ask the family to see them as a kind of investigators on their behalf," said General Almoz.

"It is true that sometimes there is a conflict of interest because there are issues of guilt, but we want to check all their information. It is natural that there is pain when there are aspects of responsibility, guilt and punishment, but it is not possible to say transparency only in the headlines."

Almoz added that in most cases, anyone who thinks of ending his life can talk to people who can "disrupt" his intention if they just recognize it correctly, listen to him or give him a shoulder, "and that is something that should be educated and taught."

Professor Tamar Herman of the Israel Democracy Institute said that a survey conducted in February 2020 on the credibility that the public attributes to the IDF report on suicide, shows that 46% of respondents said they agree or quite agree with the IDF report on reliability, but according to a poll with a question It seems that in October 2020, the figure dropped to only 38%.

Professor Gil Salzman, chairman of the National Council for the Prevention of Suicide, also spoke at the discussion, saying that Israel is below the world average in the suicide rate per capita in general and that the IDF is far below average compared to other armies in the world in particular.

"Obviously every case is a world in its own right, but as a scientist the suicide rate in the IDF is very low, and I declare to the protocol that it is not right to criticize the IDF on the subject. In the past people hid their depression in order to enlist, In them and keep an eye on them, which is a very positive thing, "he said.