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Mental health services

Compassion Fatigue Among Israeli Therapists Following the Hamas Attack: A Study on the Challenges of Providing Mental Health Services

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A new study conducted by researchers at the City University of New York (CUNY) Hunter College has shed light on the prevalence of compassion fatigue and satisfaction among Israeli therapists providing mental health services following the October 7 Hamas attack. The research aimed to identify key factors that predict levels of compassion fatigue and satisfaction, revealing the challenges therapists face in high-demand settings.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study involved 223 Israeli therapists who were surveyed about their experiences and perceptions of compassion fatigue and satisfaction.
  • 44.7% of therapists reported moderate levels of burnout, 83.6% had average levels of secondary traumatic stress, and 64.8% had moderate to high levels of compassion satisfaction.
  • Regression analyses indicated significant variations in compassion fatigue based on the populations treated, with therapists working with bereaved families and families of hostages reporting higher anxiety and secondary traumatic stress.
  • Therapists working with reserve soldiers and their families reported lower anxiety and greater compassion satisfaction, whereas public sector therapists exhibited higher levels of burnout, secondary traumatic stress, anxiety, and depression compared to those in the private sector.
  • The study highlights the substantial emotional toll on therapists working in conflict zones, particularly when treating highly traumatized populations.

Statistics:

  • 223 Israeli therapists participated in the online survey.
  • 44.7% of therapists reported moderate levels of burnout.
  • 83.6% of therapists reported average levels of secondary traumatic stress.
  • 64.8% of therapists reported moderate to high levels of compassion satisfaction.
  • 44.7% of therapists reported moderate levels of burnout.
  • Therapists working with bereaved families and families of hostages reported 2.5 times higher anxiety levels than those working with reserve soldiers and their families.

Sources:

  • NewsRx. _Studies from City University of New York (CUNY) Hunter College in the Area of Anxiety Disorders Described (Compassion Fatigue Among Israeli Therapists After the October 7 Attack: Challenges In Treating Bereaved and Hostage Families)_. Mental Health Weekly Digest. October 20, 2025; p 1071.
  • Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy. _Compassion Fatigue Among Israeli Therapists After the October 7 Attack: Challenges In Treating Bereaved and Hostage Families_. 2025;17(7):1584-1591.
  • City University of New York (CUNY) Hunter College. Silberman School of Social Work, 2180 Third Ave, New York, NY 10035, United States.

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