STUDY: OVER A THIRD OF ISRAELI UNIVERSITY STUDENTS CONSIDER SUICIDE DUE TO WAR

Mon 04 May 2026:

An Israeli academic study involving more than 700 university students, most of whom have direct links to the war through military service, has found that more than one third have experienced suicidal thoughts.

The newspaper Israel Hayom reported that long periods of reserve duty in the Israeli army have “shaken” students’ lives, due to separation from home and friends, exposure to difficult scenes on the battlefield, fear of injury, and a sense among reservists of being “forgotten”. This has led to psychological distress among many students.

According to new data set to be presented at the annual scientific conference on suicide in Israel, 39.4 per cent of students reported severe symptoms of depression, while 33.8 per cent reported active suicidal thoughts to varying degrees. This indicates a marked deterioration in students’ mental health since the outbreak of fighting on 7th October 2023.

These figures are significantly higher than global averages. The report notes that between 20 and 25 per cent of students outside Israel report symptoms of depression, and between 18 and 24 per cent report suicidal thoughts during their academic studies.

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The newspaper added that the study tracked students before and after the outbreak of fighting on 7th October, and found a substantial increase in depressive symptoms.

Researchers said that key risk factors for psychological distress and suicidal thoughts — including depression, anxiety, stress and sleep disorders — have intensified amid the ongoing war, reserve service, concern for family members, and economic and security uncertainty.

-MEMO

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