Israel’s Soldier Suicide Crisis Meets a New Ray of Hope

The IDF is facing a deepening suicide crisis among its combat troops, both in regular service and in the reserves, after months of unrelenting war. Soldiers who have taken their own lives in recent weeks represent only the visible tip of a sweeping mental health emergency that the military’s medical and rehabilitation systems are struggling to contain.

One ray of light has emerged: a new program called “Dror”, launched by the Ministry of Defense in partnership with the Summit Institute. Its mission is to intervene at the earliest signs of post-trauma, offering soldiers treatment and rehabilitation before their suffering spirals into despair.

What the Program Provides

Dror combines emotional therapy, psychiatric support, vocational and academic assistance, professional training, and rehabilitative housing. It also helps participants build life skills and find strength in a supportive community.

Crucially, the program emphasizes prevention, spotting the signals of distress before collapse. “Post-trauma doesn’t end when the fighting stops,” said Neri Shariya, head of rehabilitation and director of Dror. “It follows soldiers into their homes, their families, their work, and their sense of belonging. In Dror, each participant walks a tailored recovery path. Rehabilitation is not only therapeutic, it is social, occupational, and familial. That is how life truly returns.”

A Holistic Approach

Summit Institute leaders explain that trauma symptoms rarely disappear on their own. Left untreated, they damage relationships, careers, parenting, and identity. Many soldiers suffer in silence, trapped by shame or denial, not knowing where to begin.

“Dror was born of urgency and national duty,” said Summit CEO Yoni Bogat. “Those who return from the front lines with invisible wounds need a real space to heal. This is not just therapy, it is the beginning of new lives. Israeli society must take responsibility and allow them to live again.”

The Stakes

The program, still young, represents one of the first coordinated attempts to confront PTSD in real time, rather than years later when scars harden. If successful, it may help reverse a deadly trend and prevent the next name from being added to Israel’s growing list of soldier suicides.