Over a billion people in the world are struggling with mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The situation has worsened due to the coronavirus crisis, severe weather, economic turmoil, and continues to deteriorate due to wars. At the same time, a revolution is taking place in treatment methods: the body, nutrition, sleep, technology, and community are becoming an integral part of mental health care and are changing the way medicine understands the connection between body and mind.
In Israel, since the events of October 7, the wars that followed, and the economic pressures, there has been an unprecedented increase in the extent of anxiety, depression, and trauma, a significant surge in demand for treatment, along with very long waiting times. One of the unique characteristics of the crisis in Israel is the fact that the therapists themselves are also living through the same traumatic event. The psychologist, social worker, or psychiatrist do not come from a safe and distant place. They also run to the emergency room, worry about their children, and deal with loss and anxiety. A joint study by the University of Haifa and Hunter University in New York found that 84 percent of the professionals who treated the victims of October 7 themselves developed symptoms of secondary trauma, and about half of them suffer from significant burnout.
High rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have also been found among journalists who were exposed to the horrors of war for a long time. The new reality has forced the health system to find faster, more innovative and accessible solutions, and to develop new models of treatment. Groundbreaking research and new technologies are changing the way medicine understands the connection between the body, mind and soul.
Sugar metabolism and sleep
Until recently, people used to think that depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder were solely a matter of the brain and nervous system. Another approach said that the mind affects the body. At the same time, it turned out that the body also affects the mind. The mind is affected by almost every system in the body, from metabolism and blood sugar levels to the quality of sleep and the immune system.
light She lives far from the border, but watching the news and horror videos from October 7th put her in unstable mental states. When she sought treatment, she received critical responses for helping to complain, but in the end, she was recognized as a trauma victim.
Surveys conducted in Israel show that most of the public recognizes the importance of mental health and understands its impact on quality of life, but many are still hesitant to seek treatment, mainly due to stigma, the shortage of therapists, and long waiting times.
"They don't see me," says Ora, and talks about nightmares and sleepless nights, about withdrawal and difficulty forming relationships. "I feel threatened very easily. Raising my voice, anger, heated speech, even if it's not directed at me directly, it scares me and threatens me." She says that she shelved her dream of going to school and prefers to stay around the house. "Maybe in the future."
As part of the rehabilitation process, she changed her diet, focusing on unprocessed foods, and has since maintained a routine of activity and rest periods and tries to avoid overload. "It helps. I'm more peaceful. I started working as a clerk in a nursing home, and working with the elderly calms me down," she says.
The war changed almost every aspect of life in Israel, including the mental health landscape. Ministry of Health data indicate that in 2025 the number of patients in public clinics reached approximately 435, an increase of approximately 30 percent compared to the pre-war period. The number of meetings with professionals increased by 40 percent.
Behind the numbers lies a much broader reality. This is an entire society that has lived for months under continuous threat, alarms, evacuations, prolonged mobilization, and loss. Unlike isolated disasters, here there is no clear line separating the event and the return to normal.
The soul leaves marks on the body.
One of the most intriguing discoveries of recent years is that trauma does not remain just in memory or emotion. It leaves a physiological mark on the body. A study conducted at Assuta Hospital in Ashdod found a nearly two-fold increase in cases of “broken heart syndrome,” a medical condition that mimics a heart attack and is caused by extreme stress. At the same time, analyses of wastewater samples in Israel indicated a dramatic increase in caffeine consumption and higher levels of stress hormones in the population.
Sleep quality has also been significantly affected. About a quarter of Israelis report significant insomnia, while the rate of those suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has risen to abnormal levels relative to the global average.
Ido He left the country after an attack on bus line 18 in Jerusalem, 30 years ago. "I was 25 at the time, after military service, certain that I was going to win life. I went for a walk in Jerusalem, I thought I would visit friends, but then something terrible happened. Like from some horror movie. Before my eyes, a bus with all its occupants exploded, people were injured and killed, noise, blood, talk about a suicide bomber who was on the bus and activated an explosive device that was attached to it. I was in shock. I didn't function for several days. Since then, I haven't gotten on buses. I don't walk around the streets of Jerusalem anymore. After a week of nightmares that almost subdued me, I decided that I was leaving the country and not coming back. I thought that if I stayed in the country, I would lose my sanity." He moved to the Netherlands, where he was recognized as having post-traumatic stress disorder. "I decided that I would become a vegetarian and since then I haven't touched animal food. I feel better, my life flows, and only when I come to visit the country do I feel that the tension increases.
The revolution of metabolic psychiatry
In the past, the mind and body were separated, but today the boundaries are blurring. A relatively new field, called metabolic psychiatry, examines the connections between metabolism and mental states. Studies have found that gut bacteria have a direct impact on the production of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, on mood regulation, and on the ability to cope with stress. Fluctuations in blood sugar levels and insulin resistance have also been linked to an increased risk of depression and cognitive decline.
This means that mental health treatment is no longer just about talking and medication. More and more doctors are incorporating recommendations for exercise, quality sleep, a healthy diet, and sometimes even interventions to reduce inflammation in the body.
Tsila Abandoned by her partner when there were already plans for the wedding. "At the very last minute he suddenly came and told me that he couldn't go on with it, that he wasn't in love with me. It was a resounding slap in the face for me. He broke my heart. I got into bed and didn't want to get out of it. For almost two months I just lay in bed and would barely get down to eat something small and relieve myself. I didn't want to hear anything or anyone. After two months, when the smell in my room was apparently unbearable, my parents came in and forcibly took me to take a shower, and from there they took me to the hospital. I was malnourished. I received infusions, tranquilizers, I was in a daze for a few days, but my body got a little stronger."
The doctors recommended a combination of medication along with a lifestyle change toward physical activity and a controlled diet. She tried it, liked it, and then decided to learn it, in order to help others in her situation. Today, she organizes small groups for emotional and mental strengthening combined with activity and nutrition. "It's a double benefit," she says. "I'm getting stronger, and thanks to this path, others can also return to balance."
Technology enters the treatment room
Artificial intelligence has joined the transformation process in the world of mental health. More psychologists report that their patients are using AI tools between sessions to practice cognitive tools, keep an emotional journal, or receive initial support in moments of distress. At the same time, apps and smartwatches are able to track metrics such as heart rate variability (HRV), sleep quality, and stress levels, sometimes even identifying deterioration before the patient even notices it.
The technology does not replace the therapist, but it allows for a therapeutic continuum that did not exist in the past. New studies show that controlled use of psychedelics combined with intensive psychotherapy may help some patients suffering from resistant depression or severe post-traumatic stress disorder.
TMS treatments, magnetic stimulation of the brain, have also become faster and more effective, with shortened protocols that allow for significant relief within days instead of weeks. At the same time, genetic research is also advancing, which attempts to identify biological mechanisms common to various mental disorders, with the goal of developing personalized treatments in the future.
Out of this harsh reality, innovative treatment models have emerged in Israel that are generating interest worldwide. The network of resilience centers has been significantly expanded and provides accessible community treatment without the need for a psychiatric diagnosis.
The "Balancing Homes" model offers an alternative to psychiatric hospitalization, in a homely and supportive environment, which reduces the feeling of disconnection and stigma.
EMDR treatments were used in the evacuees' hotels and relief centers, sometimes several times a week, with the aim of processing the trauma in its early stages and preventing it from becoming a chronic disorder. This is a method of numbing and reprocessing using eye movements, and is considered one of the most effective in treating post-trauma, anxiety, and difficult painful memories.
Israeli high-tech has also joined the mission. Artificial intelligence systems have been developed that help aid organizations quickly identify those at highest risk and refer them to appropriate treatment, alongside applications that offer breathing exercises, emotional regulation, and cognitive tools for dealing with stressful situations.
Looking ahead
Statistics indicate that approximately three million Israelis may develop varying levels of anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of the ongoing war. Alongside this figure, the world of mental health is changing, and the understanding that the mind is closely connected to the body, technology, community, and lifestyle is opening up new treatment options that did not exist a decade ago.
For Israel, the human cost of the war is still heavy and the road to recovery is still long. But alongside the pain, a new concept is also developing: Mental health care does not begin only when a person breaks down, but much earlier, with prevention, early identification, community, and the connection between body and mind.
It is possible that one of the greatest crises in the country's history will also yield one of the most significant revolutions in the field of mental health. If current research and initiatives continue to develop, they may not only help Israelis cope with the wounds of war, but also influence the way the entire world understands and treats the human psyche.