Growing Mental Health Crisis Among Soldiers: A 28-Year-Old IDF Officer Dies by Suicide

A 28-year-old IDF reserve officer was found dead today (Thursday) in the Swiss Forest near Tiberias, in what military police believe was a suicide by grenade detonation. The officer, a resident of Tiberias, had served as a combat officer during the ongoing war, but had not sought assistance from the Ministry of Defense’s Rehabilitation Department for mental health support.

According to official IDF figures, there has been a notable increase in suicides among both regular and reserve duty soldiers since the outbreak of war on October 7, 2023:

• 2023 (post-October 7): 7 active-duty suicides

• 2024: 21 active-duty suicides

• 2025 (to date): 18 suicides already reported

By contrast, in the decade prior to the war, the average number of suicides in the IDF was 13 per year.

The IDF attributes this rise to the dramatic increase in reserve enlistment and exposure to combat trauma. Military sources state that there has been a shift away from suicides linked to personal circumstances, with more cases believed to stem from the psychological toll of combat.

Veterans After Discharge: No Official Oversight

While the IDF tracks suicides among active-duty personnel, there is no official body monitoring suicides of former soldiers no longer in active service. According to data compiled by Haaretz, at least 13 discharged soldiers have taken their own lives since the war began—six of them in 2025 alone.

Mental health organizations warn the actual number is likely higher, as many cases remain unreported or are not linked publicly to prior military service.

One case that drew widespread attention was that of Roy Wasserstein, a combat medic from the 401st Brigade, who died by suicide at his home in Netanya after extended reserve service. The IDF did not recognize his death as a casualty of military service, citing legal limitations since he was not on active duty at the time.

Following public backlash, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir called for a legal review to potentially allow recognition of such cases when a direct link between military service and suicide is established. Zamir announced the formation of a special committee to examine the issue in light of the "uniqueness of the period."

According to the IDF, the committee will explore the legal and policy implications of extending casualty recognition to veterans who die by suicide after discharge, especially when linked to service-related trauma.

Mental Health Crisis Deepens in Wartime Israel

The growing number of suicides among Israeli soldiers—both active and discharged—underscores a worsening mental health crisis in the wake of prolonged conflict. Veterans' organizations and mental health experts continue to urge the state to expand mental health services, track post-service outcomes, and reform recognition policies for those whose lives are impacted by their service.