The horrific events that took place on and after 7 October have many and difficult implications for the Israeli public. Many citizens have been traumatized by the events, some are traumatized for the first time and others are re-traumatized.
Dr. Martin Orbach, psychiatrist and national clinical director at B'Nefesheinu, which provides psychological, supportive and social care to trauma and post-trauma sufferers, and Amech, which provides emotional support to Holocaust survivors and the second generation, explains: "When we treated Holocaust survivors, we learned that people who experienced severe traumatic events and severe loss stay with it all their lives. It's not something you forget. You can't tell them, 'OK, this happened and now forget and move on.' The memories won't go anywhere. Every person who has experienced a severe traumatic experience is affected by it throughout his life.
"Their physical and mental wounds run deep." Evacuation of wounded from the war, photo: Oren Cohen
"Most people go on with their lives and can recover and live a normal life with the trauma 'only' in the background. But 20% to 30% will feel severe effects of PTSD throughout their lives. If a new event happens, such as what happened to us, as similar or reminiscent of past traumas as it is, it brings back the same trauma experienced in the past.
"Israel is a small country, and even those who have not experienced personal loss know someone who has experienced. There is collective grief and a very difficult undermining in the experience of basic security. People talk in terms of 'abandon us.' They promised to protect us and did not keep that promise. It's a terrible experience of abandonment and abandonment. Some people were directly affected. We're starting to go back to normal life, but we're still on alert and ready for a response, an alarm, and missiles. This is normal. But there are people who are still not functioning. They can't because they're overwhelmed with emotions.
"My message is that if you're still at the peak of the emergency and anxiety and can't get back to functioning, if you have sleep problems and can't get back to normal, it's time to seek mental health help from people who are experts in crisis and trauma intervention."
shell shock (illustration), photo: GettyImages
Return to medication
For example, it is the story of Orit (not her real name) who works in rehabilitation and meets and treats soldiers, civilians from the Gaza Strip and survivors of a Nova party. About a year ago, she completed eight years of psychological therapy, three years of which she also took antidepressants, following the death of her mother. The current war and the difficult experiences on its side have brought her back, to the difficult experiences and bullets.
"The patients share with me the frustration and helplessness they felt, the smell of fire that does not leave them, the charge in battle. Every patient brings me into their own world of content, and that's okay, because it's part of the treatment. The stories never end, and their physical and mental wounds run deep.
"After October 7, I'm not the same person anymore. I'm sad, not quiet and cry at unexpected moments. I'm much more irritable and neurotic. Every noise makes me jump and I'm constantly anxious. I feel very privileged to take care of these days, but my heart is crying," she says.
IDF forces operating in the Rimal neighborhood of Gaza City, photo: IDF Spokesperson
Difficulty with accessibility
Orit's case reflects the mood of the Israeli public over the past two months. The greatest difficulty is access to psychological treatment. It is no secret that even before the war, Israel's mental health system suffered from a huge shortage of therapists in the public service and long waiting times. The war has intensified this, the waiting time has been longer, and many do not have an affordable therapeutic solution.
Those who can afford it turn to the private market at a price of hundreds of shekels per hour of treatment. For those who can't afford it, B'Nefesheinu offers assistance at an accessible price – almost half the price of what is paid in the private market, and almost no waiting time. The association is a subsidiary of Amech and has a database of about 500 certified therapists operating in 15 branches throughout the country. The goal is to enable access to mental health support.
A display in memory of the victims of the nova, photo: GettyImages
Dorit Blittenthal, Chairperson of Benefeshinu, says, "Everyone deserves mental health and we provide everyone with a mental health solution. Whether it's for families, individuals and groups, and the treatments are aimed at addressing trauma and post-trauma. We are already recognizing that there is an increase in mental distress in patients who are already undergoing treatment and there is a worsening of symptoms. Our country is traumatized, and we estimate that the need for mental health responses will only increase."
To contact "Benefsheinu": 1-599-510-550
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