Three Years of War: ERAN Hotlines Report Surge in Loneliness and Youth Distress
Three years into the war, ERAN hotlines report over 928,000 psychological support requests. Data highlights a sharp rise in loneliness and an alarming increase in suicidal thoughts among youth.
Three years after the outbreak of the war on October 7, the ERAN association published data regarding calls to its psychological first-aid hotlines. According to the statistics, 928,911 requests for assistance were received throughout this period, handled by a network of approximately 1,850 volunteers alongside professional staff. Out of all inquiries, 154,307 chats and messages were processed through digital support services, while 774,604 calls were handled via telephone hotlines.
The Shift Toward Loneliness
An analysis of the content of public inquiries indicates a significant shift in the nature of distress as the war continued. Feelings of loneliness emerged as the most frequent factor, surging from 28.2% in the first year to 41% in the third year—indicating that more than four out of every ten inquiries dealt with isolation. Conversely, a relative decrease was observed in calls concerning anxiety, trauma, and loss, which association officials explained as a shift in the composition of topics rather than a disappearance of distress.
Meanwhile, the proportion of inquiries involving suicidal thoughts or intentions among the general public averaged approximately 2.35%, remaining low compared to the pre-war period. Stability was also maintained in the gender distribution of callers, with 56% women and 44% men, alongside a consistent rise in inquiries from teenagers and young adults up to age 24, as well as adults aged 35 to 44, including families and reservists.
Crisis Among Soldiers and Youth
Among regular and reserve soldiers, who contacted ERAN approximately 160,000 times over the three years, a sharp transition was evident from immediate threat and anxiety at the onset to deep loneliness in the subsequent two years, accounting for 41% of inquiries. ERAN noted that this loneliness stems from the gap between prolonged military service and home life, as well as the difficulties of returning to a routine.
"Behind every single inquiry stands an individual grappling with pain, loss, anxiety, or loneliness, and our organization works tirelessly to provide every caller with a safe space where they do not have to carry their burden alone," stated ERAN CEO David Koren.
A particularly troubling finding emerged from the analysis of children, teenagers, and young adults under 24, who accounted for approximately 194,580 cumulative inquiries over the three years, including 67,140 in the past year alone. Within this population, the rate of inquiries involving suicidal thoughts nearly doubled, rising from 2.6% in the first year to 4.4% in the third year.
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Total calls processed: 928,911
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Telephone inquiries: 774,604
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Digital assistance interactions: 154,307
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Active volunteers: ~1,850
Dr. Shiri Daniels, the national professional director, added that amid the reality of a perceived routine and outward functioning, it is vital to recognize signs of distress, inquire directly about suicidality, and ensure hotlines remain accessible before distress deepens.
If you or someone close to you is experiencing emotional distress, ERAN (Psychological First Aid) provides anonymous, immediate, and life-saving emotional support 24/7. Call 1201 or reach out via WhatsApp at 052-8451201, online chat, forum, or email.
