The activity

during the war

From the first week we are operating in four domains:

‘Primary Emotional Support’ centers in community hubs (such as, gathering squares for families of the abducted civilians and volunteer centers), where therapists invite the public to one-on-one support sessions and to art therapy sessions.
Emotional support “ambulances”, in which ‘Primary Emotional Support’ teams arrive at gathering points (such as squares in which candles are lit in memory of the assassinated civilians and soldiers), providing emotional support, diagnosis, and referring for further treatment when necessary.
Digital infrastructure distributes professional content (including videos, infographics, animations, posters) across all social networks (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok) in order to provide the general public with tools to cope with the current situation, raise awareness of the importance of mental health and normalize the conversation related to it. Emphasis is placed on individuals aged 18-35, considering the numerous challenges they face (military service, reserve service, academic studies, relocation within the country).
The research-based model established at Reichman University is accompanied by ongoing research in order to tap the effectiveness of the model and its impact on the therapists/volunteers. Acknowledging the innovation and relevance of this therapeutic model for post-war crisis management, research papers will be sent for publication to academic journals and shared with the community of therapists in order to expand the service. The paper on the initial model has already been submitted to an academic journal, alongside holding academic seminars for the community of therapists.

‘The day after’

With the understanding that the mental need will continue to be acute even after the fighting,

We are working on developing dedicated programs for diverse target audiences:

Understanding that the psychological needs will continue to be acute after the War, we are working on developing specific programs for diverse target audiences:

“Soul Campus”: Providing support to student communities. ‘The day after’ thousands of students will resume their academic studies and face challenges they have never experienced. The initiative aims to help this population cope with trauma and the crisis associated with returning to a (new) routine. Additionally, due to the universities’ difficulty in providing routine counseling services, the situation is expected to worsen after the War. We aim to assist universities in distinguishing between emotional severity levels and thereby ease the expected burden, leading to maximum efficiency in providing mental support. The proposed program will enable the establishment of ‘Primary Emotional Support’ facilities in academic institutions nationwide at the beginning of the academic year.

“Soul Cafe”: We plan to establish a “Soul Café” for the community coping with grief and trauma; a goal oriented, permanent coffee shop where initial mental support services will be provided free of charge and over time, with a focus on young adults aged 18-35 (before/after enlistment, university applicants, young families, job seekers). This is to ensure that this population is granted the necessary mental resilience to resume their family, community, professional and academic lives after the War. ‘Soul Cafes’ will be set up in city centers and locations targeted to young populations, serving as meeting places, knowledge hubs, and resilience centers. The Cafes will provide initial mental support through one-on-one conversations, art therapy, and will enable the tapping of this age group’s needs in order to reinforce the future generation of the country.

“Golden Soul”: We identify the special needs of the elderly population in the current crisis. In addition to the unique resilience that comes with age, the elderly citizens are exposed to various risk factors: past wars, past trauma due to loss, loneliness, limited social circles, ageism (age discrimination), and more. Especially during a period that sanctifies the power of the young combats, it is important to take care of the elderly population and restore its sense of meaning. in order to maintain the community’s resilience. We will operate initial mental support compounds in various centers targeted to the elderly population, alongside group sessions and target oriented art therapy and creative activities.

Photography : Gefen Didi

Photography : Shlomi Yosef