Israel Defense Ministry Releases New Rehabilitation Data Ahead of First International Conference: One in Every Two Wounded Security Personnel Experiences Psychological Distress

The Israel Ministry of Defense's first International Rehabilitation Department Conference, titled "Lifetime Partnership," will be held on Tuesday, March 25th, at Tel Aviv University. The event will include representatives from over 20 countries, along with medical and rehabilitation experts from militaries, defense ministries, and health ministries globally. The conference will focus on the medical, psychological, familial, and social rehabilitation process for wounded Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and security forces personnel, as well as released hostages treated by the Rehabilitation Department. It will highlight the collaborative partnership approach employed in this initiative. Conference sessions will demonstrate how the Rehabilitation Department has managed unprecedented challenges since October 7th, while simultaneously conducting rehabilitation efforts during active combat in Israel's longest war, which has seen record casualty numbers. Presentations will showcase the Department's transformative rehabilitation approach, featuring innovative breakthroughs, advanced technologies, and pioneering research. The program will include personal accounts from wounded service members detailing their rehabilitation journeys and offering firsthand perspectives on recovery and resilience. In anticipation of the conference, the IMOD's Rehabilitation Department is releasing new data indicating that over 16,000 wounded personnel from the current war have received treatment since October 7th, 2023. An additional 8,300 individuals have sought recognition for injuries sustained in incidents prior to the current conflict. These new cases bring the total number of wounded personnel under the Department's care to 78,000, with one in every two wounded personnel experiencing psychological distress. Analysis of the current war shows that reserve soldiers make up the majority of wounded personnel at 66%. Of these, 51% are young adults aged 18-30, and 7% are women. Approximately 10,900 individuals are suffering from physical injuries, and 50% of those treated have experienced psychological distress, including 2,900 with combined physical and psychological injuries. Of the total wounded, 6% have moderate injuries, and 4% have severe injuries. Seventy-two amputees have been fitted with prosthetic devices. The Rehabilitation Department, in partnership with the Zahal Disabled Veterans Organization (ZDVO) and the IDF Manpower Directorate, adheres to its "rehabilitation before bureaucracy" policy. This approach ensures immediate medical and psychological care for all wounded personnel while postponing medical committee evaluations for one year to allow for recovery and injury stabilization. During this interim period, the injured receive financial support based on individual needs, comprehensive medical treatment, and complete psychological care. Economic data indicates that the average annual cost per war casualty for treatment and support is approximately 150,000 NIS. Looking ahead, projections suggest the Rehabilitation Department will be caring for approximately 100,000 disabled IDF veterans by 2030, with half experiencing mental health challenges. To manage this anticipated increase in caseload, the Department has established a dedicated Customer Service unit that will work in conjunction with enhanced technological and digital systems to streamline administrative processes for long-term disabled veterans and those recently wounded from the current war.