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Source: https://www.jns.org/why-do-israeli-soldiers-suffer-from-ptsd-less-than-american-counterparts/
Why Do Israeli Soldiers Suffer from PTSD Less than other Soldiers?
(JNS) Forest Rain Marcia - According to a study by the Israel Defense Forces Medical Corps Mental Health Department, reported cases of post-traumatic stress disorder among Israeli soldiers are among the lowest in militaries worldwide. For example, following the 2006 Second Lebanon War, 1.5% of Israeli soldiers were diagnosed with PTSD. In contrast, a U.S. Army Medical Corps study done at the same time found that about 8% of U.S. soldiers who served in Iraq and Afghanistan had been diagnosed with PTSD. PTSD diagnoses in other militaries ranged from 2% to 17% of troops who participated in combat. What makes IDF soldiers different? It is Israel itself that is different. Unlike in the U.S., there is no person in Israel who is untouched by terrorism or war; soldiers are an integral part of Israeli society. The IDF is a citizens' army, consisting of our fathers, brothers, husbands, friends, sisters and daughters. Almost every household has a soldier. Israelis have developed an attitude of "What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger." This is the mindset of resilience. While Americans might honor or respect their soldiers, Israelis love their soldiers passionately. To Israelis, soldiers are our boys, our girls, our family. You let them sleep on your shoulder if they fall asleep next to you on the bus. It doesn't matter if you never saw them before and don't know their name. The minute they put on the uniform they belong to you and you belong to them. You do for someone else's son or daughter exactly what you would hope someone would do for yours.