The survey found that 52% of spouses reported a negative change in their children’s mental state following reserve service.By Pesach Benson, TPSFigures released by Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics on Sunday reveal the profound impact of extended reserve duty on military families, with nearly half of marriages suffering damage and more than half of children experiencing mental health deterioration.The comprehensive study, conducted between April-May 2025, surveyed families of reservists who served in the Israel Defense Forces during routine operations or under emergency orders between Oct. 7, 2023-Feb. 1, 2025.The findings paint a stark picture of the war’s collateral damage on the home front.According to the survey, approximately half of wives married to reserve servicemen reported that their marital relationship was damaged as a result of their partner’s extended service.About one-third of these women admitted that the damage led to thoughts of separation or divorce.The correlation between service length and relationship strain is particularly striking.While 36% of spouses married to reservists who served up to 50 days reported harm to their relationship, this figure jumped dramatically to 57% among spouses of those who served 200-350 days.“The longer the reserve service, the greater the impact on family stability,” the report said.Children have not been spared from the psychological toll. The survey found that 52% of spouses reported a negative change in their children’s mental state following reserve service.This percentage climbed to 63% among families where the father served 200-250 days.The mental health crisis extends beyond the children to the spouses themselves.A significant 61% of wives of reserve servicemen reported needing some form of assistance following their partner’s service, with 55% requiring psychological or emotional support and 38% needing financial assistance.The demand for professional mental health services has been substantial, with 35% of spouses seeking psychological help following their partner’s reserve duty.Among wives of ground forces personnel, this figure reached 68%, reflecting the particularly intense nature of infantry service during the conflict.“The longer the reserve service, up to 250 days, the higher the percentage of spouses seeking psychological assistance,” the report said.Families have increasingly turned to their personal support networks for help. Three-quarters of military families needed assistance and relied on family members or friends.Interestingly, the survey revealed cultural differences in help-seeking behavior, with 83% of religious families utilizing support from relatives or friends, compared to 74% of secular families and 64% of Orthodox Jewish families.Official support systems showed mixed effectiveness. While 30% of families reported receiving assistance from the IDF and 23% from local authorities, these percentages varied significantly based on service length.Families of reservists serving more than 250 days were nearly twice as likely to receive IDF assistance compared to those serving shorter periods.Financial support through the National Insurance Institute reached most families, with 87% of couples receiving their entitled payments — 68% in full and 19% partially.However, significant gaps remain, particularly among divorced mothers and single mothers, who received substantially less support.Approximately 1,200 people were killed and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas’s attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7.Of the 48 remaining hostages, about 20 are believed to be alive.The post Survey reveals heavy toll of reserve duty on Israeli families appeared first on World Israel News.