JERUSALEM (VINnews) — The worrying trend of Israeli reservists and regular soldiers taking their own lifes demonstrates the crushing psychological burden of the war on IDF soldiers who have been serving in the battlefield. In the last month alone, four soldiers have committed suicide and one attempted suicide.
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Ariel Meir Taman, a reservist soldier, was found lifeless last night (Sunday) at his home in southern Israel, according to an IDF statement.
Following the incident, the Military Police Criminal Investigation Division has launched an investigation to examine the circumstances of his death. Once concluded, the findings will be transferred for review by the Military Advocate General.
It is suspected that the soldier took his own life at his home.
About two weeks ago, a paratrooper in training attempted to take his own life at the brigade’s training base. The IDF reported that he was seriously injured and evacuated for medical treatment at a hospital.
A day before that, it was reported that a regular service IDF soldier from the Nahal Brigade had taken his own life at a military base in the Golan Heights. He was a combat soldier who had fought in Gaza during the war.
A week prior, Daniel Edri z”l, a reservist who lost his two best friends at the Nova festival and was discharged from reserve duty after a year, also took his own life. Another soldier, whose name has not been released, was found lifeless a week before that.
According to data published by the IDF at the beginning of the year, 21 soldiers died by suicide in 2024, compared to 17 the previous year — the highest numbers since 2011. The data indicates that most of the soldiers who took their own lives last year were reservists. However, the IDF clarified that when taking into account the number of active-duty and reserve combat soldiers, the increase is not dramatic.
About two and a half months ago, Prof. Yossi Levi-Belz, head of the Lior Tzefati Center for Suicide and Mental Pain Research at Ruppin Academic Center, warned that a wave of suicides may still lie ahead. He explained at the time that “extreme crisis situations, like on October 7, actually reduce suicide rates, but when society starts returning to normal, many individuals — such as reservist soldiers — remain in a heightened state of vulnerability because the intensity of their struggles doesn’t subside, and they continue to deal with post-trauma. That’s why it’s important to recognize that the current period may be even more dangerous in terms of suicide risk.”
According to Prof. Levi-Belz, “Acute crisis periods increase the sense of belonging (‘we’re all in the same boat’), which fosters connection, closeness, and interpersonal bonds. But as time passes and the crisis becomes more distant, those feelings of belonging and connection slowly fade, and in their place comes a painful sense of loneliness. When a person feels alone in their distress, the risk of suicide increases.”
the Zionists previous wars were short and with a tachlis 6 day war to stop annihilation now its a 2 years like a Vietnam or Afghanistan with no purpose just going in circles PROTECTING Hamas lovers, they are fighting for nothing.