Suicidality calls to a national helpline: One year post the October 7 terror attack and amidst a prolonged war

This study provides insights into the impact of prolonged war on suicidality, focusing specifically on suicide-related calls to Israel's national mental health helpline during the year following the October 7, 2023, Hamas terror attack and ongoing war. Utilizing data from 615,046 helpline calls between October 7, 2022, and November 2, 2024, the findings showed an immediate, significant increase in overall distress calls after the attack. Conversely, there was a notable and persistent decrease in both the proportion and total number of suicide-related calls throughout the year-long period of war. These findings align with previous research suggesting that heightened war-related distress does not necessarily lead to increased suicide risk, possibly due to factors such as increased social cohesion. Building upon our previous research, the current study contributes to the limited body of knowledge regarding suicidality patterns during prolonged wars. The study underscores the complexity of suicidality patterns during a prolonged war and emphasizes the need for ongoing monitoring and targeted mental health interventions during sustained national crises.