Soldiers in north (Archive photo)
צילום: איי פי
War: 300 troops received psychological treatment
Head of IDF’s Mental Health Department says instructions given to IDF commanders in field prevented even larger number of soldiers seeking psychological treatment
Col. Gadi Lubin, the head of the IDF’s Mental Health Department, told Ynet that some 300 soldiers who took part in the fighting in Lebanon received psychological aid.
According to Lubin, instructions given to IDF commanders in the field prevented an even larger number of soldiers seeking psychological treatment.
“The commanders were given the right tools to deal with the soldiers and to act in such a way that reduced trauma cases among the troops,” he said.
Lubin said many soldiers received initial psychological treatment from metal health officers who arrived at the security fence along the Israel-Lebanon border, and soldiers in need of additional treatment were sent to various mental health centers that were set up in the area.
He said 200 soldiers received psychological aid, in addition to 100 more who received treatment after sustaining physical injuries in the fighting. According to Lubin, many soldiers returned to the units following the treatment, but 15 percent did not return to the battlefield and were taken to the mental health centers for extended care.
“The number of IDF soldiers in need of mental treatment is very low in comparison other armies in the world, including the US forces in Iraq; this is mainly due to our approach,” he added.
IDF Mental Health Department officials estimate that in the coming weeks more soldiers who complained of mental distress will arrive at the centers for treatment.
