ByDR. ITAY GAL
Updated:

A month after the end of Operation Rising Lion against Iran, a Maccabi Healthcare Services survey of hundreds of patients found high rates of sleep disturbances, fatigue, fear, anxiety, and worsening mental health among children.

The survey included a representative sample of 1,100 Israelis from all the health funds. It found:

• Half of the respondents said they were not getting enough sleep to function well, compared with 33% in February.

• Half of the respondents said they were suffering from insomnia at least twice a week, compared with 37% in February.

• 16% of the respondents said their fatigue levels were severe or very severe.

‘INADEQUATE SLEEP raises the risk for numerous health conditions, including heart attacks, diabetes, obesity, and cancer, and too little sleep is also linked with an increased likelihood of developing mental disorders, such as anxiety, depression, and even suicidal tendencies.’
‘INADEQUATE SLEEP raises the risk for numerous health conditions, including heart attacks, diabetes, obesity, and cancer, and too little sleep is also linked with an increased likelihood of developing mental disorders, such as anxiety, depression, and even suicidal tendencies.’ (credit: Wikimedia Commons)

• Half of the respondents said they had less energy to handle daily problems or maintain focus.

• 24% of the respondents said the “like a lion” events had made it very hard to return to routine, while 31% reported moderate difficulty.

• Key symptoms included stress, fear, and anxiety (35%); fatigue and low energy (22%); and disrupted sleep (18%).

• Among smokers, 63% said they had increased cigarette consumption during the war.

• 20% of the respondents said their mental state was moderate or poor, compared with 13% before the October 7 massacre.

• 30% of the respondents said they now needed mental-health support, compared with 18% two months after the war began.

• 20% of the respondents said they recently had experienced frequent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or loss of interest in daily activities.

Impact on Children

• 25% of parents said they had noticed worsening behavior in their children, including irritability, impatience, withdrawal, or aggression.

• 20% of parents said they had noticed a decline in their children’s mental health.

“Despite some return to routine, the mental-health effects persist, especially as the war continues,” said Naama Stein, the head of applied research at Maccabi. “The data show harm to mental well-being and sleep, leading many to need psychological support and struggle with daily challenges. These concerning trends have been ongoing for nearly two years.”

According to Dr. Eran Rothman, Maccabi’s chief health officer, “The data underscore the war’s long-term mental-health toll. Poor sleep, rising fatigue, and prolonged sadness and anxiety harm physical health and daily coping abilities.

“This is a cumulative process, often developing quietly, so continuous monitoring, early detection, and combining medical care with resilience-building tools are crucial.”