The families of the captives marked Sunday 143 days of struggle for the release of their loved ones. In these 143 days of uncertainty, unrelenting worry, and conflicting reports about progress in negotiations and the fate of their loved ones. All these take a toll on the families' health.
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A survey conducted by the The Hostage and Missing Families Forum in cooperation with Maccabi Health Services shows how much the families' medical and mental state has deteriorated since their loved ones were abducted. The women in the families who responded to the survey reported giving up on routine tests, losing weight, suffering from sleep difficulties, and taking antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications.
The situation takes its toll
The survey was conducted in January among the abducted families' women and an additional group of volunteers at the headquarters, compared to a control group of women in the general population.
About 80% of the abducted families' women reported a deterioration in their health condition, with 62% describing it as moderate or bad. This percentage is four times higher during the war compared to before the war (15%). Furthermore, 86% of the abducted families' women delayed or gave up a doctor's appointment or a pre-scheduled medical exam, which is twice as high compared to the general population (about 40%).
The stressful period also affects sleep and eating habits: About a fifth (21%) of the families' women and headquarters volunteers reported significant weight loss. This is 10 times higher compared to the general population. 88% reported worsening eating habits - almost twice the change in the general population.
Almost all the families' women who responded to the survey reported a decline in their sleep quality, with the dramatic figure of 93% whose sleep was harmed since the October 7th events. 14% of them testified to taking sleeping pills with a prescription.
Another significant figure shows that almost all the abducted families' women (96%) reported a deterioration in their perception of their mental state, with about two-thirds describing their mental state as moderate or bad. Compared to before the war, when about 80% reported their mental state was very good or excellent. There is also a deterioration in mental state among the abducted families headquarters' volunteers: 81% report a deterioration in their perception of their mental state, and 70% describe their mental state as moderate or bad.
Following the war, 84% of the abducted families' women feel they need mental health assistance from a professional (compared to 23% of the general population), of which about two-thirds do receive assistance.
It also emerges that the use of antidepressant and anti-anxiety medications among the families' women has doubled: Almost a fifth (19%) of the abducted families' women use medications to treat depression or anxiety. Whereas before October 7th only 8% of them needed treatment.
"The lack of knowledge exacts a price"
"The survey describes the difficult situation that the abducted families deal with every day. Our mission and duty is to accompany, support, and assist them as much as possible, to try and ease their suffering even a little," says Deputy CEO & Head of the Health Division, Dr. Eran Rotman.
"Maccabi stands by the abducted families at all times and provides them, as well as Israelis who returned from captivity, with full medical care, both physically and mentally."
"Not knowing what happened to their loved ones who were abducted takes a heavy toll on the families, and harms their physical and mental health," explains The Hostage and Missing Families Forum's healthcare director Prof. Hagai Levine.
"The uncertainty and distress that accompany the families may lead to sleep and appetite disorders, and exacerbate existing medical conditions due to incrיקשךאיased stress. Emotionally, the ongoing s,earch and ambiguous loss arouse prolonged grief, anxiety and depression, overloading family relationships.
Every day that passes exacerbates the situation and shows that for the families, time is running out as long as the abducted are not released.
The Families Headquarters volunteers to help families cope with the horrific consequences of the abduction."
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