כיכר השבת

IDF Acknowledges Rising Suicide Cases

At a Knesset hearing on suicide prevention within the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Brigadier General Amir Vadmani, Chief of Staff for the IDF’s Manpower Directorate (אכ״א), admitted that while the army offers a wide array of mental health support tools, many soldiers are simply unaware of their existence. “There’s a very broad range of resources to help soldiers mentally,” Vadmani said. “But we’re not doing a good enough job making these tools accessible—people don’t know they exist. Our goal now is to monitor usage of these services and significantly improve awareness.” Vadmani emphasized the crucial role of peers in identifying signs of distress that commanders might miss. “Sometimes commanders don’t see what friends do—and we need those friends to speak up. We’re launching a communications campaign to raise awareness, including among parents.” He stressed that the issue is being taken seriously at the highest levels of the IDF. “We’re not resting on our laurels—we’re deeply troubled. The number of cases is rising, and we’re preparing for even more intensive intervention going forward.”