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In Israel, the number of people suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to the recent hostilities is on the rise. According to the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) in Israel, PTSD treatment costs in the country could reach 197 billion shekels in the next five years. These data were published by the “Detail” publication.
According to experts, among the injured are hundreds of participants of the “Nova” festival and residents of northern settlements that were shelled from the Gaza Strip. Also among the injured are a significant number of soldiers who took part in hostilities.
Many of the victims did not receive timely help because they did not realize the extent of their psychological damage. An analysis by MAPS shows that the economic loss from one person with PTSD is estimated at 1.86 million shekels over their lifetime. These losses include significant costs of health care and social benefits (18%), impact on employment and productivity (74%), and increased risk of developing other mental disorders and addictions (8%).
The financial burden of treating PTSD is shared between the patients themselves and their families (30%), the state (30%) and the loss of productivity (40%).
With the number of PTSD cases skyrocketing, MAPS plans to focus on developing new treatments, including group therapy. The association estimates that the treatment’s potential return on investment, if approved by the health ministry, is between 12.5 and 14.9 shekels for every shekel invested.
