Psychological Trauma in Israel.. A Time-Bombed Economic Bomb of 160 Billion Dollars

The losses of wars are not limited to material destruction and direct military spending, but their profound effects extend to the mental health of societies, and the long-term economic and social burdens that follow.

A recent and shocking report issued by the Israeli "Natal" Center reveals that the psychological trauma resulting from the attack by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on the south of the occupation state on October 7, 2023, and the war that followed, is not just a humanitarian crisis, but a time-bombed economic threat to human capital and sustainable growth for many years to come.

The "Natal" Center is a non-profit organization that provides treatment and psychological and emotional support to victims of traumas resulting from war and violence.

The journalist Maayan Hoffman discussed the results reached by the Israeli center in an article published on the "Ynet" website affiliated with Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, citing the American website "The Media Line".

Hoffman - who is a journalist at the independent American website "The Media Line" - mentioned that Israel will face a hefty bill estimated at about 500 billion shekels (approximately 160 billion dollars) over 5 years, including direct and indirect expenses related to the repercussions of psychological trauma.

She pointed out that the report confirms that the largest part of this cost does not appear immediately in government budgets, but manifests gradually in the erosion of human capital, declining productivity, and rising rates of illness, violence, and addiction.

The report explains that many workers, especially in the age group 25-38 years, which forms the backbone of the workforce, have become unable to work efficiently, or have abandoned their high-value specialties (such as engineering) in favor of fields that do not require much effort due to psychological exhaustion.

Hoffman reported that the "Natal" report warns of an unprecedented surge in post-traumatic stress disorder rates in Israel, which may reach about 30% of the population, a figure that far exceeds the global average.

It is also estimated that more than 600,000 Israelis will suffer from psychological effects that hinder their ability to work or learn, with tens of thousands who may develop severe symptoms requiring long-term therapeutic intervention.

The repercussions do not stop at the boundaries of the formal economy, as Hoffman says, adding that the report indicates a sharp increase in fatal road accidents, domestic violence, drug use, and the use of sedatives and opioids, in addition to a worrying increase in heart diseases and strokes linked to psychological stress.

The report's authors point out that these phenomena are not temporary, but form a pattern that has repeated after previous wars, which strengthens the credibility of current predictions.

In contrast, the report - according to the article's writer - presents an alternative vision based on early investment in mental health as an economically sound choice. It bases this on a study issued by the World Health Organization showing that every dollar spent on treating anxiety and depression can achieve a return of up to 4 times through improved productivity and reduced future costs. However, failure to invest in this field leads to completely opposite results.

The report calls for structural reforms including expanding community mental health services, integrating psychotherapy with vocational rehabilitation, and enhancing national coordination between different institutions, alongside integrating concepts of "trauma-sensitive work" into workplaces, education, and healthcare.

The report concludes that the cost of psychological trauma lies not only in what is spent on treatment, but in what is wasted of human energies, and what is lost of growth opportunities. While Israel is still in the "acute phase" of the crisis, the report's authors see that rapid intervention can prevent the trauma from turning into a chronic economic and social burden that weighs on the state for decades to come.

It is noted that most studies that addressed the psychological impact of the October 7, 2023 attack confirmed that the event produced a contemporary model of post-traumatic stress disorder, a psychological disorder that appears after exposure to a stressful or terrifying and unexpected event, and its effects are clearly reflected on both the individual and society.

In his scientific paper published by the Al-Zaytouna Center for Studies and Consultations, the expert in future studies and foresight, Dr. Walid Abdul Hai, sees that the phenomenon of suicide is one of the most prominent potential outcomes of this disorder, as it has been a focus of attention for psychologists, sociologists, and doctors.

Data reveals a rise in suicide rates among Israeli army personnel after the Hamas attack, which imposes the necessity of studying this phenomenon in light of psychological and social theories, especially since Israel tops Middle Eastern countries in suicide rates.