Over one-third of ‘Israeli’ students report suicidal thoughts amid war
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A new study reveals alarming levels of mental distress among ‘Israeli’ university and college students, with nearly 40% reporting severe symptoms of depression and more than one-third experiencing active suicidal thoughts, rates substantially higher than global averages.
The findings, drawn from research involving over 700 students, will be presented for the first time at the annual scientific conference "To Understand in Order to Prevent," scheduled for May 5 at the Tel Aviv-Jaffa Academic College.
According to the study led by Prof. Sami Hamdan of the Tel Aviv-Jaffa Academic College, 39.4% of participants reported severe depressive symptoms, while 33.8% disclosed active suicidal thoughts at varying degrees of severity.
These figures exceed typical international benchmarks, where 20-25% of students report depression symptoms and 18-24% experience suicidal thoughts during their academic careers.
The research, a longitudinal examination tracking students before and after the outbreak of hostilities on October 7, also found that 65.5% of respondents reported significant feelings of loneliness — a notably high proportion even when compared to previous crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prof. Hamdan attributed the deterioration to multiple interconnected factors: extended reserve soldiers' call-ups that disrupted academic and personal routines, exposure to traumatic events on the battlefield, separation from family and social networks, and persistent security and economic uncertainty.
The conflict with Iran has further exacerbated conditions for students not directly mobilized.
While the study noted some reduction in loneliness, likely due to heightened social solidarity during emergencies, researchers warned that core risk factors — including depression, anxiety, stress, and sleep disturbances — are operating with greater intensity amid the protracted war.
"We are witnessing not merely an increase in numbers, but a profound shift in the mental state of an entire generation," Prof. Hamdan stated.
“Students in Israel have been living under sustained pressure from security threats, reserve service, and economic and academic strains for an extended period. The system has yet to close the gap.”
