Years of escalating security tensions, war, and prolonged uncertainty have had a profound impact on Israel's youth. According to ELEM's annual report, submitted today (Sunday) to President Isaac Herzog, the security escalation of recent years — especially since October 7 — has fundamentally changed the nature of youth risk. Whereas the primary concerns in the past were mental health distress and substance use, violence has now become the most prominent issue in the lives of many young people.

The report, based on ELEM's work with approximately 15,000 at-risk youth over the past year and a survey of more than 3,100 respondents, presents a troubling picture: one in every two young people who came into contact with ELEM's teams this year had experienced at least one form of violence, and many had been exposed to multiple forms of violence simultaneously.

Substance use has also risen sharply. 66% of the young people ELEM worked with reported consuming alcohol, compared with 45% the previous year — an increase of 21 percentage points. At the same time, 45% reported using illegal drugs, up 19 percentage points from the previous year.

More than 40% of respondents reported feelings of loneliness, depression, and anxiety, with the figure rising to nearly 63% among girls. The report also highlights a significant gender gap: approximately 45% of girls reported emotional distress, compared with just 21% of boys. Girls were also four times more likely to report self-harm and three times more likely to report eating disorders than boys.

The report also points to a dramatic 135% increase in online violence and a significant rise in violence within the home. During the same period, ELEM's digital support services received approximately 10,000 requests for assistance from young people.

The findings further show that violence is rarely an isolated issue. About 40% of the young people who met with ELEM's teams had been exposed to three or four different forms of violence at the same time — including physical, verbal, sexual, and online violence, occurring across multiple settings. ELEM notes that violence is no longer a problem limited to society's margins, but a reality affecting many young people across Israeli society. It is almost always accompanied by loneliness, depression, anxiety, self-harm, alcohol and drug use, and difficulty functioning in school or other structured environments.

The report also compares two recent military operations — "Operation Rising Lion" (armed conflict between Israel and Iran, June 2025) and "Operation Roaring Lion" (current war between Israel and Iran, 2026) — and identifies a consistent pattern of worsening outcomes: a 70% increase in reports of self-harm, a 30% increase in anxiety, and a 21% increase in substance use. The data, collected in early 2026, indicate that the psychological impact of security-related events does not end when the fighting stops; rather, it accumulates and deepens with each successive round of conflict.

One of the report’s most striking findings concerns young people who have experienced loss. Among this group, the rate of suicidal thoughts or behaviors stands at 45%, compared with just 12% among youth who have not experienced loss — a gap of 3.7 times. Rates of self-harm are also significantly higher among this group.

Beyond the indicators of distress, the report emphasizes that above all, young people are seeking stability and the presence of meaningful adults in their lives. Nearly half reported needing routine and structure, 40% said they need a significant adult figure, 46% reported boredom and a lack of meaningful activity, about 40% experience loneliness, and 37% struggle with anxiety. ELEM explains that these findings point to an erosion of traditional protective factors — routine, structured environments, caring adults, and community.

The report also points to a blurring of the line between “mainstream” youth and youth considered “at risk.” About 60% of otherwise typical young people report deep upheaval and a loss of personal security, while an additional 6% are at the extreme end of the spectrum and face acute risk. ELEM argues that risk has, in effect, “become widespread,” and that a broad support system is needed — one that goes beyond focusing only on the most vulnerable youth.

“This year, we are no longer talking only about distress, but about escalation. More than half of the young people we met were exposed to violence, and 53% experienced violence outside the home. Violence is no longer a marginal or isolated phenomenon — it has become part of everyday life for many teenagers,” says ELEM CEO Tali Erez.

“In the field, we meet young people living with anxiety, loneliness, and disconnection, alongside anger that is sometimes expressed through violent behavior. After years of crises and uncertainty, this is no longer a reality affecting only those at the margins — it is a reality that reaches nearly every home in Israel. When a teenager feels the need to carry a knife or pepper spray in their pocket to protect themselves, this is no longer just their personal problem — it raises questions about the kind of society we are becoming. That is why a national, cross-sector response is needed — one that sees young people and addresses the full range of their needs.”

President Isaac Herzog said, "The troubling findings in ELEM's report are not merely a snapshot of the current situation — they are a test for Israeli society. The way we choose to see young people who are struggling, and our willingness to reach out to them in time, will shape the character of our country in the years ahead. We cannot accept a reality in which violence, loneliness, and despair become part of the everyday lives of our youth."

Herzog added that he is calling on "Israeli society as a whole — the government, local authorities, the education and welfare systems, civil society organizations, and every one of us — to come together and ensure that every young person knows they are not alone."

ELEM Chairman Rabbi Shai Piron said, "ELEM's report reflects a reality that cannot be ignored. As an organization working on the front lines with at-risk youth, we are seeing deeply concerning trends that require a broad, systemic response. ELEM works every day on behalf of at-risk youth, but targeted interventions alone are not enough."

One of the report's central messages is that the line between "mainstream" youth and youth at risk is becoming increasingly blurred. Risk is no longer confined to those on the margins of society. ELEM is calling for an expansion of support services, stronger community-based programs, and greater access to mental health care for all young people in Israel.