The Times of Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/suicide-in-idf/ News from Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World Fri, 12 Jun 2026 02:04:12 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://static-cdn.toi-media.com/www/uploads/2018/11/toi_icon_512-200x200.png suicide in IDF | The Times of Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/suicide-in-idf/ 32 32 Discharged IDF soldier from US dies of apparent suicide after struggling with PTSD https://www.timesofisrael.com/discharged-idf-soldier-from-us-dies-of-apparent-suicide-after-struggling-with-ptsd/ Sun, 24 May 2026 13:44:55 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?post_type=liveblog_entry&p=3829396 Alex Miller, 23, was moderately wounded in a 2022 car-ramming attack, lost close friend in 2025 Gaza combat; as an only child, required special permission to enlist

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]]> Families of soldiers who died by suicide petition High Court for IDF recognition https://www.timesofisrael.com/families-of-soldiers-who-died-by-suicide-petition-high-court-for-idf-recognition/ Wed, 07 Jan 2026 10:20:46 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3728613 Petitioners challenge committee ruling, saying mental wounds deserve the same acknowledgment as physical injuries and that combat trauma continues after uniforms come off

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]]> IDF to enact new guidelines for recognizing suicides linked to military service https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-to-enact-new-guidelines-for-recognizing-suicides-linked-to-military-service/ Tue, 30 Dec 2025 18:27:51 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3723537 Defense Ministry will decide on a case-by-case basis whether circumstances of a suicide are linked to trauma from military service, and will increase support for victims' families

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]]> Ex-cop with PTSD dies two weeks after self-immolating outside defense official’s home https://www.timesofisrael.com/ex-cop-with-ptsd-dies-two-weeks-after-self-immolating-outside-defense-officials-home/ Wed, 12 Nov 2025 16:08:20 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3687165 Vital Mishayev, 46, was diagnosed with mild-to-moderate PTSD in 2013 but demanded recognition as fully disabled; his case shines light on servicemembers' mental health struggles

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]]> 279 IDF soldiers attempted suicide since start of 2024, Knesset report finds https://www.timesofisrael.com/279-idf-soldiers-attempted-suicide-since-start-of-2024-knesset-report-finds/ Tue, 28 Oct 2025 15:08:44 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3675754 Combat soldiers made up 78% of all suicide cases in Israel in 2024, a sharp rise from 2017-22, when the rate hovered between 42% and 45%

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]]> Invisible wounds haunt IDF’s Gaza veterans as war triggers wave of psychological suffering https://www.timesofisrael.com/invisible-wounds-haunt-idfs-gaza-veterans-as-war-triggers-wave-of-psychological-suffering/ Wed, 22 Oct 2025 07:22:18 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3670966 Army tracks dozens of suicides, thousands of requests for recognition of mental illness over two-year war; PTSD sufferers keep up encampment outside Knesset

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]]> In cry for help, combat vets toss piles of pills at Knesset meeting on suicide https://www.timesofisrael.com/highlighting-distress-combat-vets-toss-piles-of-pills-at-knesset-meeting-on-suicide/ Mon, 15 Sep 2025 16:24:49 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3642474 Veterans complain government has not done enough to tackle rising suicide rates among those with post-traumatic stress. Defense Ministry acknowledges 'significant gaps'

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]]> IDF suicides tied to combat trauma, internal probes said to reveal https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-suicides-tied-to-combat-trauma-internal-probes-said-to-reveal/ Sun, 03 Aug 2025 16:35:21 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3612306 Military steps up mental health care as Personnel Directorate chief visits reservist soldier’s grieving family

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]]> Reservist medic dies by suicide, prompting IDF to reassess casualty recognition https://www.timesofisrael.com/reservist-medic-dies-by-suicide-prompting-idf-to-reassess-casualty-recognition/ Thu, 31 Jul 2025 18:30:46 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3610976 Family of Roi Wasserstein says trauma from battlefield cost him his life months later; military to weigh legislative reforms

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]]> IDF to begin discharging traumatized reservists amid growing mental health concerns https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-to-begin-discharging-traumatized-reservists-amid-growing-mental-health-concerns/ Wed, 30 Jul 2025 17:45:55 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3609952 New policy applies to soldiers with 30% or higher state-recognized psychological disability; officials deny link to recent rise in suicides

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]]> Reservist who identified bodies after Oct. 7 found dead in suspected suicide https://www.timesofisrael.com/reservist-who-identified-bodies-after-oct-7-found-dead-in-suspected-suicide/ Mon, 28 Jul 2025 14:50:49 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3608033 Master Sgt. (res.) Ariel Meir Taman, who served in Military Rabbinate, is survived by wife and 4 children; Knesset Defense Committee urged to discuss rise in IDF suicides amid war

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]]> Concerns deepen over military’s mental health system after series of soldier suicides https://www.timesofisrael.com/concerns-deepen-over-militarys-mental-health-system-after-series-of-soldier-suicides/ Wed, 23 Jul 2025 05:04:39 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3599266 As lawmakers demand transparency from the IDF, experts urge deeper understanding of war’s psychological toll on troops

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]]> IDF lone soldier from Norway dies from gunshot wounds in apparent suicide https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-lone-soldier-from-norway-dies-from-gunshot-wounds-in-apparent-suicide/ Sun, 20 Jul 2025 13:53:41 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?post_type=liveblog_entry&p=3602054 Israeli host father describes in-training paratrooper Cpl. Dan Phillipson as 'disciplined, outstanding' soldier who had wanted to enlist since high school

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]]> Family demands PTSD sufferer who took his life be recognized as fallen soldier https://www.timesofisrael.com/family-demands-ptsd-sufferer-who-took-his-life-be-recognized-as-fallen-soldier/ Mon, 07 Jul 2025 08:09:08 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3592551 Daniel Edri served as reservist in both the Gaza Strip and Lebanon; mother describes his descent into self-harm and suicidal thoughts, pans authorities for not saving him

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]]> Reservists being called up despite recognized mental wounds, including PTSD — report https://www.timesofisrael.com/reservists-being-called-up-despite-recognized-mental-wounds-including-ptsd-report/ Mon, 19 May 2025 17:42:29 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3552707 Haaretz identifies 2 reservists with trauma diagnoses who died by suicide after being called up; report blasts 'Kafkaesque' lack of coordination between Defense Ministry and IDF

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