Addressing the Overwhelming Mental Health Impact of October 7 in Israel: The Valiant Efforts of Volunteer Support
Israel's mental health services face immense challenges in the aftermath of the devastating October 7 Hamas attacks With shockwaves spreading nationwide, a growing crisis looms as professionals and volunteers strive to support traumatized individuals, including ex-hostages, in their prolonged mourning process
Marina Golan's recent trip to Ukraine was deeply moving for the 42-year-old mother of two. She had left the country as a teenager when her family moved to Israel. Golan was among a group of Israeli psychologists who generously offered their expertise in treating trauma to assist the war-torn country.
During their visit, they conducted workshops for medical professionals and educators on how to handle psychological trauma. Golan expressed the emotional impact of their work and the significance of providing much-needed support in a country like Ukraine.
A few weeks later, the situation flipped. Golan received messages from her colleagues in Ukraine offering their help when the (Israel-Hamas) war began. Working tirelessly since the surprise attack by Hamas on October 7, Golan, along with other mental health professionals, has been dealing with the aftermath. In addition to running her private clinic in central Israel, she also provides support to children and their families at two schools.
Shockwaves across the country
"Ive been involved from the first day," she said. "We had the first Zoom meeting that Saturday with teachers, and later with parents, to understand what kind of impact it had."
The therapists and teachers collaborated to create a visual representation of the "circles of impact" in order to comprehend the situation at hand. Despite the schools not being situated in the targeted region of southern Israel, the reverberations of the attacks were deeply felt.
"I have a child in second grade visiting his family on one of the kibbutzim and he saw everything," said Golan. "Some of the family was killed in front of his eyes."
Bullet holes are seen in the decorated window of a kindergarten and nursery school destroyed during the attack by Hamas at Kibbutz Be'eri.
Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
She noted that many of the individuals she encounters are grappling with profound questions. "Many people are attempting to find a rational explanation to make sense of the situation and piece everything together." Despite the ongoing conflict with Hamas and the uncertainty surrounding the fate of the remaining hostages, people are still trying to move forward with their lives to some extent. However, it is still too early to determine the full extent of the impact on mental health.
"It's ongoing, and only now are people starting to seek out mental health support," she explained. Golan also pointed out another factor that adds to the distress, which stands in sharp contrast to the situation in Ukraine.
"Everyone comprehends the situation in Ukraine and is choosing sides," she remarked. "In Israel, there's a sense that we have to persuade and ensure that people grasp the reality of what's unfolding. When someone doubts you, it's like experiencing double trauma."
On October 28, 2023, in the upper Galilee region of northern Israel near the border with Lebanon, a member of the Israeli army stands with a rifle slung across their chest.
Dr. Ofrit Shapira-Berman, a psychoanalyst and lecturer at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem's School of Social Work and Social Welfare, is providing new hope to families of Israelis killed in war through sperm extraction.
She leads the mental health team at First Line Med, a volunteer organization that offers services, supplies, and counseling to Israelis impacted by the events of October 7. In a phone interview with CNN, she mentioned that up to 500 volunteer psychoanalysts provide support to the families of those who were killed, injured, and taken hostage.
"She said the situation is not good. The mental health of everyone is deteriorating. On October 6, none of us psychoanalysts had any available hours, but by October 8, we all managed to find the hours we had previously lacking."
"We provide support for the survivors of the massacre, the families who have lost loved ones, and those who have been kidnapped," she explained. Shapira-Berman has been assisting some of the hostages who were freed by Hamas during the recent ceasefire.
For ex-hostages, mourning has just begun
"Were only now beginning to see the deeper effects of the trauma," she said.
Most of the newly released individuals have a father or brother still held captive, causing increased anxiety and fear for the well-being of their loved ones. Upon returning to Israel, some also learned of the tragic loss of a parent.
"They are just starting to grieve, so it's incredibly complicated," she explained.
Additionally, homelessness is a significant problem. "Since they are kibbutz members, many of them don't have a place to call home. Their belongings are destroyed, and they have to rely on their relatives for shelter," stated Shapira-Berman, noting the recurring themes she observes.
"They express that the inability to trust humanity anymore is one of the most painful things I hear from them. Survivors often feel guilty, as those who haven't lost someone feel both blessed and guilty, and the people who survived the massacres also feel guilty."
The release of some of the hostages was closely followed across Israel.
Erik Marmor/Getty Images
"Ive personally treated someone who lost her whole family. She said there are some families from her kibbutz who emerged with three generations and a dog, all alive.
"Her parents and three sisters were brutally killed. It's incredibly challenging for someone who has lost everyone. I can't imagine how she will continue with her life."
"In a mental health system that is already overwhelmed, much of the support has come from community-led efforts, says Shapira-Berman."
She mentioned that on October 6, mental health public agencies were overwhelmed by the demand for help, with an average therapy waiting time of 18 months prior to the attacks. Prof. Eva Gilboa-Schechtman, a psychology professor and head of the Emotional Processing Laboratory at the Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center at Bar-Ilan University, provided this information.
She told CNN that recent research shows the proportion of people struggling with mental health difficulties has almost doubled since the terror attacks.
Israeli soldiers are seen patrolling near the Gaza border in Nir Oz, Israel, as the clash between the Israeli army and Palestinian factions continues on October 19, 2023. (Photo by Mostafa Alkharouf/Anadolu via Getty Images)
In a recent phone interview, she explained that the events on October 7 occurred during a period of upheaval in Israeli society, making social cohesion and the overall mood of the country already quite challenging due to months of anti-government protests.
Living in central Tel Aviv, she mentioned that despite not being directly affected by the events of October 7th, she knew two individuals who had been kidnapped. She also noted that four people from her laboratory were serving in the reserves, as were many friends of her children and the children of her friends, attributing these circumstances to Israel's small size and compulsory military conscription.
Gilboa-Schechtman suggests that the current mental health crisis has multiple focal points, with one revolving around the families of the kidnapped and another centered on those who were killed or injured.
Another group that is focused on includes professionals like emergency workers who provided aid to the victims, as well as cyber experts who have sifted through hours of disturbing footage filmed by Hamas.
"There's also a circle of families and spouses who are in the military, as well as young mothers with two or three children," she explained. "And then there are many others who are not as directly involved, but are still deeply affected by the situation."
The families of those serving in the IDF are also struggling with the mental health impact of the war.
Amir Levy/Getty Images
Everyone is impacted, she said, not least because the war is unfolding in our hands, thanks to smartphone technology and social media.
We are inundated with information, both solicited and unsolicited, at an incredibly high frequency.
"We are consuming it through television, social media, conversations with our loved ones, during our outings, and even when emergency sirens are blaring."
Switching off is nearly impossible, and people have mixed feelings about doing so. They feel the need to stay tuned because it directly impacts their friends, colleagues, and fellow citizens. Despite civil society's efforts to fill the void in government assistance, Gilboa-Schechtman believes there will inevitably be burnout. It's no secret that the country has been inundated with events.
