But behind this image hides a truth far more delicate and complex. The moment Vincent took the razor and cut his ear was not an act of sudden madness, but a human breaking point born from loneliness, an intense yearning for connection, and a deep fear of abandonment.

The town of Arles was shocked. Rumors raced, local articles raged, and suddenly van Gogh became a figure who frightened his surroundings, long before he became a revered genius. But what seemed to others like madness was, perhaps more than anything, a moment of uncontrollable human pain.

Psychologists and medical researchers have raised countless speculations over the years – epilepsy, exposure to toxic substances in paints, deep depression, and bipolar disorder. But perhaps the simple answer is the one we know from every human story – he was wounded. He was lonely. And he searched for a way to soothe the pain he didn't know how to speak.

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Why does trust enhance our sense of wellbeing? Dr. Sanam Hafeez, a neuropsychologist and director of Comprehend the Mind, explained that the study discovered people who feel they can rely on others, whether in close relationships or in broader social systems, experience less stress, better emotional regulation, and a greater feeling of security in the world.

"All of these contribute not only to mental health but also to physical health," she stated. "A lack of trust causes people to experience more loneliness, hypervigilance, or anxiety, and over the long term, chronic stress activates the body's stress system. Studies have already linked chronic stress to inflammation, heart disease, decreased immune function, and even cognitive decline."

Conversely, the ability to trust others can offer a degree of protection. It reduces cortisol levels and helps sustain healthy long-term behaviors – such as an active social life, seeking medical attention in time, and maintaining healthy routines, Hafeez explained. "Trust isn't just a pleasant emotion, it's a powerful psychological resource," she added. "When you cultivate it throughout life, it may contribute to both emotional resilience and longevity."

The research also found that the most crucial kind of trust is interpersonal trust, which is present in close ties with family and friends, and has the greatest effect on a sense of wellbeing. "In the clinic, one of the strongest protective factors in a patient's recovery process is a positive and strong social support system – and this is exactly what the research reinforces," said Dr. Patrice LeGaux, a marriage and family therapist.

LeGaux noted that trust becomes particularly vital in old age, when dependence on others increases. "When you have positive relationships with a stable foundation of trust, you also have higher levels of happiness and life satisfaction."

How can we boost our trust in other people? Even if the benefits of trust are clear, it's not always easy, especially when it has been violated in the past. Nonetheless, mental health experts explained that there are practical methods to begin rebuilding it.

Start small

According to the study, experience and environment influence trust. Dr. Cynthia Viar, a mental health counseling lecturer, explained that the process of building trust starts with small, everyday moments. For example, a person who struggles to trust can observe that colleagues arrive on time, keep their word, and collaborate. "That kind of observation can be reassuring and open the door to deeper, more meaningful interactions," she said. Hafeez recommended paying attention to how people behave consistently. "Do their actions align with their words? Do they listen without judgment? Do they respect your boundaries? Trust grows when behavior is consistent, even in small things."

Understand the risk involved

Increasing trust means taking small, calculated risks, said Dr. Hannah Holmes, a clinical psychologist. "There's always a possibility that people will disappoint us, particularly if it has already happened before, and that causes real fear."

Change your perspective

Trust requires a conscious shift in thought patterns and continuous monitoring of one's mood, explained Dr. Tori Broms. "Our general feeling affects how we see the world. When we are positive and balanced, we are more trusting, and when we are frustrated or pessimistic, we tend to be suspicious."

Examine the source of the difficulty

According to LeGaux, there is usually a good reason why we find it hard to trust. "The first step is to recognize this and legitimize it, to understand why we behave this way. Only then can we ensure that past injuries aren't present in new relationships." She said she asks patients, "Does this pain belong to the current relationship?" – a question that makes it possible to understand that you can be safe now, even if that was not the case in the past. "The real work is learning to trust ourselves, so we will know how to identify when a person in front of us is indeed trustworthy."

Stay in the moment

Hafeez emphasized the importance of being in the present. Don't assume that a new person will behave like someone from the past. "It requires awareness and patience, but it's possible. And it's also important to strengthen emotional boundaries. When we know we can say 'no,' move away, or protect ourselves, it's easier for us to give others a chance."

Give people a chance to prove themselves

Holmes suggested offering small opportunities that allow others to demonstrate trustworthiness, whether it's telling an embarrassing story or delegating a small task to someone else. "Trust is built slowly, and that's okay."

How do you balance trust and caution? LeGaux explained that trust is like a muscle – you need to exercise it. This includes trusting ourselves and our intuition. Instead of trusting blindly or automatically suspecting, Broms suggested practicing "realistic trust building." This involves checking if the person keeps promises, if their behavior is consistent, and if they know how to respect boundaries. Viar added that it is worthwhile to distinguish between "good judgment" and "cynicism." Both involve caution, but cynicism blocks the possibility of trust, while good judgment allows you to remain open to new information.

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The hearing, led by MK Elazar Stern, was prompted by what Stern described as "an unusual spike in suicides recently, particularly among soldiers returning from Gaza combat operations."

The session took on profound emotional weight when Neta, whose twin brother Staff Sergeant Assaf Dagan died by suicide, delivered tearful testimony about systemic failures she believes cost her sibling his life.

"I'm here to discuss those who never ask for help," Neta told the committee. "Assaf repeatedly requested meetings with mental health officers. Our mother contacted his commanders when she recognized post-traumatic symptoms. While they showed empathy, they lacked professional understanding – failing to recognize they faced a wounded soldier, psychologically injured."

The family's warnings escalated dramatically in Assaf's final month. "My mother explicitly warned a senior Air Force commander that Assaf would commit suicide," Neta revealed. "His commanders knew about his struggles, but military coordination broke down completely. His support network understood and reported concerns, yet the system failed him."

Her plea resonated throughout the chamber as she demanded institutional change. "I'm asking the system to actively identify those who don't seek help and dedicate every resource to treatment. Consciousness shifts and institutional recognition save lives. Suicide isn't predetermined fate – we can change outcomes. They served us, now we must serve them."

Lt. Col. Vadmani responded by acknowledging accessibility problems with existing support infrastructure. "Recent cases teach us that soldiers seeking treatment can't adequately reach our support centers," he admitted. Recognizing that upcoming holidays present heightened risks, military officials plan a comprehensive outreach campaign featuring anonymous contact options.

The IDF maintains these statistics require annual analysis rather than monthly scrutiny, despite the troubling recent sequence of soldier deaths. Military spokespeople have consistently declined media requests for interim data, citing policies restricting disclosure to year-end reports.

Brig. Gen. Dr. Carmel Kela, who heads the Medical Corps' Clinical Branch, outlined expanded therapeutic capabilities implemented during wartime operations. "Unique combat challenges prompted therapeutic expansion both before and during current operations, including new specialized centers and branches," she explained.

The military established round-the-clock support hotlines while expanding the Combat Response Unit serving reserve personnel between active deployments. "Our unit employs dozens of therapists, psychologists, social workers, and counselors providing psychiatric care, group therapy, and recognition process support," Kela detailed.

Treatment accessibility has improved significantly, with waiting periods reduced to one or two weeks. New resilience programs target regular service members experiencing post-traumatic symptoms, while permanent treatment centers received substantial expansion. Mental health officer deployment increased dramatically across all IDF units, with personnel entering combat zones including Gaza when necessary.

The testimony follows last week's suicide of reserve combat medic Roei Wasserstein, prompting immediate leadership response. Personnel Directorate head Maj. Gen. Dudu Bar Kalifa, coordinating with Defense Minister Israel Katz and Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, ordered creation of a specialized committee examining support systems for discharged soldiers and inactive reservists.

Wasserstein, 24, from Netanya, served over 300 reserve days with the 401st Armored Brigade's medical evacuation team, experiencing traumatic casualty recovery operations throughout Gaza combat zones before ending his life this week.

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What do you do when your beautiful, outgoing, loving daughter ends her life? If you were my husband, Shalom Hammer, you would say: 'I have to do something.' I don't want anyone else to go through what we've gone through.

Five and a half years ago, our 18-year-old daughter ended her life. She had been suffering, silently and painfully, after a traumatic experience she endured at 16. We only learned about it a year later. During that year, her bubbly, loud personality began to fade. What had been an energetic, extroverted, compassionate, and deeply empathetic girl became angry and withdrawn. She stopped participating in her youth group and spent most of her time in her room.

We thought it was typical teenage behavior. It wasn't. When we finally found out about her trauma, thanks to a teacher who gently encouraged Gila to share, everything suddenly made sense. It wasn't too late, but without real guidance, support, and education, we didn't know how to give her the help she truly needed. We were suddenly thrust into a complex world of bureaucracy, lengthy waitlists, and uncertainty.

Over the 18 months that followed, Gila was prescribed medication, but she never received focused trauma therapy. She was turned away from hospitals when she asked for help. She sat on waitlists, stalled by bureaucracy, and was twice sent home from the ER after swallowing pills, clear cries for help that were never truly answered. One doctor told me: "Our job in the ER is to make sure someone doesn't die. She's alive. Take her home and get her help."

Eventually, she was admitted to an institution, where she had three very positive weeks. After discharge, Gila was sent home with nothing in place. No framework. No meaningful routine. No social connection. Her friends were moving on to the army, Sherut Leumi, and yeshiva. She was stuck. The loneliness and feelings of uselessness were crushing. She spent four long months at home, waiting for approval after approval. And we, her parents, had no idea where to turn.

A few months after her death, my husband said, "Enough." After taking a Mental Health First Aid course and learning about suicidal ideation, he was devastated. "Gila had been suicidal," he realized. Not every day, but in waves, the way suicidal thoughts often come. We had said the wrong things. Offered the wrong responses. Not because we didn't care, but because we didn't know what the right responses were.

Looking back, she showed every sign of suicidal ideation. But we didn't know what those signs were. No one sat down with us, or with her, to talk directly about suicide. Even the psychiatrist who saw her the day she died didn't conduct a full suicide risk assessment, a conversation that could have made all the difference.

So he started speaking out. He began telling our story. Not for sympathy but rather for prevention. To raise awareness. To remove stigma. And to help make sure no one else lives with the anguish and grief we now carry. From this pain, we created Gila's Way based on the core values Gila exemplified in her life. Deep compassion, empathy, and making others feel seen by lending a helping hand. Gila's Way is based on the lessons we learned far too late and on Gila's own values, her strength, and the compassion she showed others even while she was suffering.

We educate and apply real, practical tools for suicide prevention. We introduced the CAMS (Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality) program to Israel. A gold-standard model from the US that helps therapists directly address suicidal thoughts while avoiding hospitalization, and we're training clinicians across the country.

We offer free consultations for families who are dealing with someone in crisis to help advise them on navigating their loved one to safety and recovery. This past year alone, we offered 190 such consultations.

We've launched over 20 "Spread Joy Days" on college campuses, where students learn how to check in with friends, recognize warning signs, and talk about mental health. We visit schools, pre-army academies, parent groups, and teachers. We teach how to listen. How to ask. How to act.

And we're working, slowly but persistently, to open doors inside the IDF. The army is particularly challenging. Most soldiers are young adults, and aside from being a very vulnerable age, they encounter a lot of pressure and various experiences that can be triggering and traumatizing. In a moment of despair, a soldier's access to weapons can be fatal.

Recently, there have been several suicides in the army. After two of them, my husband received calls from soldiers in the unit and from concerned parents. In both cases, it became clear that soldiers weren't given the space or support to talk about what had happened. From the conversations had, it's obvious that their commanders receive very little training in suicide awareness and prevention. That kind of training needs to be built into the military curriculum. Soldiers themselves need to know how to check in on one another, recognize warning signs, and act when something feels off.

The army is a hard institution to break into. But we must. Because every life matters, whether in uniform or not. This week alone, Gila's Way is addressing soldiers in the north, and in the south.

Suicide prevention shouldn't be a niche topic reserved for professionals. It needs to be a national conversation, something every person in this country learns about. We can't be afraid to talk about it. We can't keep avoiding the word "suicide" as if silence will protect us. It won't. While the army may publicly acknowledge some suicides, many go unreported or are only briefly mentioned, and few of us know how many lives have truly been lost to suicide this year, in or out of uniform. Every one of those lives mattered. And so does our responsibility to learn, speak up, and act before it's too late. There is still a dangerous stigma around mental health and suicide. Too many people still say, "This could never happen to us." But it can. And it does; that was once us.

In a moment of despair, suicidal thoughts can translate into action. Without the correct tools, the right support, and awareness, lives are lost. For these reasons, as we approach September 10, International Suicide Prevention Day, Gila's Way is hosting "Suicide Revealed" in Jerusalem, Bet Shemesh, and Ranana. Suicide Revealed screens a film called "Levi" about a young man in the Jewish community of Manchester, UK, who is plagued by suicidal thoughts. Following the film, a panel discussion will take place on identifying suicidal signs, response, and treatment.

Gila's Way was established because no one should be turned away when they ask for help. Because no parent should be left in the dark. Because suicide can be prevented, when and if spoken about correctly. Let's stop whispering about suicide and let's start learning how to prevent it, because education and awareness can save a life.

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A diet rich in vegetables, fruits, and fish may help reduce or prevent symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), reports NBC News. 

The study, conducted by researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital and the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health and published in Nature Mental Health, found that women who followed a Mediterranean diet experienced fewer PTSD symptoms compared to those who didn't adhere to the dietary pattern.

Releasing tomorrow - Advances in the Understanding of PTSD. This is a long one! It has to be

To truly grasp PTSD, we must return to first principles and understand the fundamental stress response. The challenge lies in avoiding diagnostic overshadowing by viewing PTSD too… pic.twitter.com/y5tnsoeYoC

— Dr Sanil Rege FRANZCP | MRCPsych (@sanilrege) October 30, 2024

 "When you put that in the context of PTSD, what's going to happen, I think, is that in response to overt stresses, if you're consuming a Mediterranean diet, you won't have these horrific stress responses that can be very damaging," said Carol Shively, a pathology professor at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, who was not involved in the research.

The peer-reviewed findings drew from two earlier studies conducted in 2008 and 2013, analyzing data from tens of thousands of female participants. For their analysis, researchers selected 191 women: 44 with PTSD symptoms, 119 who had experienced trauma but no PTSD symptoms, and 28 who had experienced neither.

The research team found that plant-based foods showed a negative correlation with PTSD symptoms, while red and processed meats were positively associated with such symptoms. The study's findings could help inform dietary recommendations for people at higher risk of PTSD, such as military service members, according to researchers.

Around 4% of the global population has experienced PTSD in their lifetime, according to the study. The condition develops in certain individuals who have experienced or witnessed traumatic events such as severe injuries, violence, or deaths.

"Many people get exposed to trauma, but only a small percentage go on to develop PTSD. It's always been a bit of a mystery," said Christopher Lowry, an associate professor of integrative physiology at the University of Colorado, Boulder, who was not involved in the research.

Yang-Yu Liu, the study's author and associate professor at Harvard Medical School, identified a specific species of gut bacteria that appeared to be linked to both the Mediterranean diet and protection against PTSD symptoms. "Maybe those enriched components of a Mediterranean diet help this particular bug thrive in the gut environment," said Liu, who is also an associate scientist at Brigham and Women's Hospital.

Lowry, however, expressed caution about attributing benefits to specific gut bacteria until additional studies replicate the results. He suggested that the Mediterranean diet's anti-inflammatory effects might be the key factor in alleviating or preventing PTSD symptoms. "The Mediterranean diet predominantly has an anti-inflammatory effect, and we have known for decades now that inflammation is a risk factor for depression," Lowry said. "Now it's become clear that it's also a risk factor for PTSD."

Several studies have suggested that elevated levels of inflammation may play a role in the development of PTSD. Research indicates that processed foods can increase gut permeability, allowing bacteria to enter the bloodstream and potentially affecting brain function through inflammation that travels from the blood to the central nervous system.

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The "Iron Swords" war started with an unprecedented brutal attack, leaving a broad swath of the Israeli population – soldiers, civilians, residents of the southern region, and the Re'im festival's partygoers – reeling from painful and deep traumatic injuries. In the days following Oct. 7, the public went through or was exposed indirectly, to immense losses, grief, sexual violence, and abductions of both civilians and soldiers, including children, women, and the elderly. Alongside the need to identify and bury the dead with proper respect, there was also the necessity to prepare for combat. The war that broke out in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon following the terrorist attack has only contributed to the ongoing suffering – physical and emotional injuries – and expanded the circles of disability and grief.

Hundreds of thousands of soldiers, both on active duty and reservists, are engaged in continuous, intense combat. Around 140,000 Israeli civilians living near Gaza and northern Israel have been displaced from their homes. The frequent attacks in various locations and the ongoing captivity of hostages for more than a year after their abduction affect us all. These events have impacted us at multiple levels – as individuals, as families, and as a community.

So, how do we cope?

Should we ask reservists about their experiences, or not? Insist they return to work, or let them take time off? Should we enforce structure or relax expectations? How should we respond to outbursts at home? How much flexibility or leniency should we offer, and how many demands should we make? Should we encourage the use of medication, or not?

These are critical questions, but there's no single, universal answer. However, some tools can help:

Limit your news intake
It's easy to become addicted to information, feeling the need to constantly track what's happening – through disturbing videos, endless broadcasts, and interviews with generals, politicians, or analysts. We're all experiencing FOMO (fear of missing out), glued to our phones or screens, making it even easier to get addicted. While staying informed is important, a healthier approach at such a challenging time is to limit news exposure to once or twice a day for a set amount of time. Get the updates, then move on to something else. This applies to adults and also sends a message of normalcy to our children.

Engage in activities that bring joy and fulfillment
Don't focus solely on sadness and hardship – go to a movie, spend time with friends, or go to the beach. It might feel strange or uncomfortable to enjoy life while there are hostages in Gaza or while so many are fighting in Lebanon and Gaza. But this is essential. It's okay to have fun, to be happy, and to live "normally," without guilt or shame. Coping with ongoing traumatic events wears down our resilience and strength, and replenishing our emotional resources is necessary to continue enduring and thriving.

Maintain structure
The continuation of these events has caused a deep rupture in our regular routines – work, leisure, and social life. Therefore, maintaining somewhat of a routine is more important than ever. There is healing power in preserving continuity in work and daily routines. Often, we feel that there's no point. How can one return from reserve duty and go back to work or university? It feels trivial and meaningless. But after a few consecutive days of resuming normal activities, a sense of purpose starts to return. Work and daily activities are crucial for processing difficult events, recovering, and healing.

Offer support to combat soldiers
Ask them how they're doing and leave the door open for conversation, but don't press them. Understand the challenges they express and, at times, their emotional outbursts. However, it's important to set boundaries. If things aren't improving, encourage them to seek professional help. Medication isn't the primary treatment; cognitive and behavioral therapies are more effective in many cases.

Keep an eye on yourself and others
Be more attentive and supportive. Remember, mutual responsibility is vital today more than ever.

Let's all pray for the swift return of the hostages, the end of the fighting, and the opportunity to begin healing the fractures and processing the traumatic events we've experienced. Until then, let's try to maintain a routine and function as best we can.

Prof. Eyal Fruchter is the Chair of the National Council for Post-Trauma, Medical Director of the ICAR Foundation, and a psychiatric consultant for Femi.

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From 6:29 AM on October 7, 2023, it's as if Israelis have been riding a never-ending high-speed train of trauma, each day punctuated by the sounds of sirens, buzzing drones, artillery fire, and fighter jets. The incessant booms of falling shrapnel, exploding Iron Dome interceptors, the words spoken on TV, on the phone with family, written online between friends – all about the missing, the injured, the murdered, the kidnapped. Civilians become soldiers overnight, others attending funerals and protests en masse, as streets transform into murals of socio-political slogans and portraits of unwitting victims.

Images and videos have seared into the collective memory: mutilated bodies stained with blood; raw terror etched on the faces of fleeing concertgoers across a vast field; Shani Louk's lifeless body lynched on the streets of Gaza; Hersh Goldberg-Polin, whose arm was maimed by an RPG, or the white pick-up truck filled with armed Hamas terrorists driving through the streets of Sderot on what was supposed to be a quiet Saturday morning. The examples are endless, and the horror of the massacres and pogroms at the Nova Music Festival and over 20 towns and villages of Israel's South reverberates far beyond its borders. 

In its savage cruelty, in its deliberate targeting of innocent civilians, in its perverse celebration of violence broadcasted for the world to see, the October 7 attack was a declaration of war by Hamas and its sponsors, not just on Israel, but on the very values that underpin civilized society.

The audio-visual trauma is a major part of the weaponry in this war: The taunting hostage videos and discrediting social media posts – these are not mere byproducts of the attack, but central to its aim of sowing fear, helplessness, and long-lasting trauma. Hamas, a ruthless terrorist organization driven by a Nazi-like ideology passed down from Europe to the Middle East at the end of World War II, is built on hatred and savagery. It understands that in today's hyper-connected world, psychological warfare can be as potent as any bomb. Hamas sought to use their atrocities to turn vast sections of the world against Israel through a propaganda campaign. This campaign aimed to justify their actions and has been nurtured for decades.

The debilitating soundtrack and visuals have fueled an algorithm-dictated echo chamber of trauma online and in real life, hour by hour, day after day. In the last 12 months, even the most mundane sights and sounds took on a sinister new meaning, it became clear that no Israeli is immune to this new breed of terror. The color yellow immediately sparks a connection to the 'Bring Them Home' campaign, a haunting reminder of the hostages' plight, and many street noises echo an eerie resemblance to rocket sirens and gunshots, causing people to regularly freeze in panic for a split second before realizing the true origin of the sound.

The trauma inflicted on Israel's psyche is a microcosm of the wounds inflicted on the collective conscience of the Jewish people throughout history. Confronting this threat requires more than military might. It will require moral clarity, psychological resilience, and calling out the double standards that legitimize some victims while ignoring others, the hypocrisy that condemns Israel's self-defense while excusing the provocations that necessitate it.

As Prof. Ofrit Shapira Berman, a historian of Israeli trauma, explains, "October 7th is Israel's biggest trauma yet, not only because of its objective magnitude, but also because it echoes our past traumas – the Holocaust and the Yom Kippur war, in terms of the government's betrayal and failure. The fact that October 7th is experienced by many as a byproduct of the government's actions has broken the trust of many citizens in the government and the state."

A nation forged in trauma

For Israelis, national trauma is a familiar, unwelcome companion. The very inception of the modern State of Israel is inextricably bound with the devastation of the Holocaust, which saw six million Jews systematically murdered. Rising from those ashes, each subsequent war and attack has resulted in Israel's enduring accumulative post-traumatic stress – the War of Independence, Six-Day War, Yom Kippur War, the Lebanon Wars, the Intifadas, Operation Protective Edge, weekly knife attacks and car rammings – seven decades of indelible dents on the collective psyche.

"The events of October 7 result in an estimated 300,000 additional patients who require treatment by a trained professional," notes Prof. Shapira Berman.

This legacy has shaped a society where even schoolchildren practice rocket drills. In the 1990s, they were taught to don gas masks in preparation for biochemical warfare and, today, how to take cover in shelters from incoming missiles. Memorializing the fallen is woven into the very fabric of the Israeli public space. In a sense, it is this shared history of trauma, more than anything else, that binds Israelis together across religious, ethnic, and political divides.

The sheer scale and brutality of the October 7 attack and its aftermath reactions have ushered in a new level of national trauma into Israel's battered consciousness, be it the slaughter of innocent families, the shattering of the idea that the home is a safe haven, the agony over the fate of the hostages, and the global campaigns to delegitimize and gaslight the Israeli narrative by major organizations like the United Nations, and individuals alike. Beyond the initial attack itself, the hate and antisemitism running rampant anywhere from major news networks to the campuses of the biggest universities have shocked Israelis to their core, struggling to understand how their suffering is being ignored or, worse, manipulated and vilified.

Audio-visual trauma: No escape from the horrors

Experts say the constant multimedia conversation can cause a state of hypervigilance, anxiety, flashbacks, and difficulty functioning for many, causing some to slip into dissociative states.

"We are seeing a shared reality where all Israelis are victims," explains Dr. Rony Berger, a clinical psychologist specializing in community resilience. "This leads most Israelis to experience symptoms of acute stress, even if they were not directly impacted." Dr. Berger notes that "Even those not directly exposed to the attacks were deeply traumatized by the constant barrage of disturbing images and stories on TV." 

Dr. Berger highlights the unique challenges posed by the unfiltered videos of the attacks circulating online: "From an evolutionary point of view, we know that the worst flashbacks or sensations are either smell or voice because, in prehistoric eras, these were the cues for danger. Audio-visual pictures that we see on TV could be really traumatizing. I've known a lot of people who were not directly exposed but were extremely affected just by the sights they've seen on TV."

For those near the southern and northern borders, and indeed across most of Israel with the proliferation of threats on multiple fronts, the whole country is impacted by the terrorizing fear of attacks from land, sea, and air as well as online. Mental health professionals are treating a nation reeling from audio-visual trauma on an unprecedented scale. With one in three Israelis exhibiting PTSD symptoms, new treatment approaches are being pioneered, like virtual reality therapy, to help patients process traumatic memories more safely.

The psychological toll spares no one

The war's psychological impact has cut across all sectors of Israeli society. Soldiers and reservists grapple with the horrors witnessed on the battlefield. Families of the murdered and injured face a lifetime of grief and challenges. Survivors of the attacks relive the terror in flashbacks and nightmares. Even young children are not spared, with a generation growing up to explosions and horrifying footage, their innocence forever marred.

Psychotherapist Dr. Shlomit Bresler, who has treated dozens of bereaved families and injured victims, describes the long road ahead. "For many, the grief and trauma is still very raw. First, we focus on stabilization and establishing a sense of safety. The real processing often can only begin once they feel secure that the threat has subsided. With the war still raging, that is a long way off for most."

Dr. Bresler emphasizes the collective nature of the trauma: "We are living in a mass-trauma situation. The entire population is under trauma and various types, but this started before October 7th. October 7th simply reopened a wound and infected it worse. The healing process can only come from deeper sociological and political changes."

"The families of hostages are suffering the most, their lives completely upended, consumed by anguish and despair with each passing day," Dr. Berger reflects. Each day without news chips away at their resilience, the unknown becoming a unique form of torture.

Yehezkel Caine, President of the Herzog Medical Center, Israel's leading mental health institution, describes the situation as a "psychological and emotional catastrophe." He warns of a "coming tsunami of mental health problems" as people return to the remains of their communities, confront the death and destruction, and soldiers return with physical and emotional scars.

"Already our main clinics are overflowing," Caine reports. He emphasizes the shortage of trained therapists proficient in trauma as a major challenge, necessitating extensive training programs and support for the mental health professionals themselves to prevent secondary trauma and burnout.

Caine notes significant differences in the psychological impact and treatment needs between civilian victims, soldiers, and first responders. "The civilian sector is way behind, both due to a lack of trained therapists, little government support and a lack of infrastructure, due to years of neglect of the mental health sector," he explains. The military sector is comparatively better organized, while first responders typically receive services through their units.

Collaboration and long-term needs

Looking ahead, Caine emphasizes the critical need for investment in mental health infrastructure and resources to address the long-term impacts of this unprecedented national trauma. "Manpower, manpower, and manpower!" he stresses, highlighting the years of training required to produce qualified psychiatrists, psychologists, and clinical social workers. "If one can see a positive aspect to the events, it is the sudden recognition by everyone of the problem and, to a certain extent, the destigmatization of mental health," Caine notes. "This is, of course, a good thing. Unfortunately, there is no magic wand that we can wave to produce good quality therapists. It takes at least 5 years to produce a psychiatrist from a qualified doctor. A clinical psychologist can take a similar period. Clinical social workers also require extensive training."

Caine also underscores the lack of physical facilities, with Herzog Medical Center's new clinic building already overflowing just two years after opening. The hospital is embarking on an ambitious $90M project to build a new Mental Health Center, but completion is not expected until 2028.

The road ahead

For a society so deeply shaped by its history of existential threats, regaining a sense of safety and security on both the individual and collective level will be a long and difficult process.

"We need a 'mental Iron Dome' to protect Israelis from this bombardment on our psyche," asserts Prof. Mooli Lahad, Israel's leading expert on coping and resilience. "That means embedding mental health professionals in schools, workplaces, community centers, building a societal infrastructure of psychological support and resilience."

Lahad's BASIC Ph model outlines six coping and resilience styles: Belief, Affect, Social, Imagination, Cognitive, and Physical. "The more of these we are able to utilize, the more resilience we are able to harness to regain a sense of control in an otherwise terrifying situation," he explains.

Prof. Lahad provides some concrete examples of what a "mental Iron Dome" could entail: "It is possible through the resilience centers and through the government services such as community welfare and education. This model is based on the 'cascade' model: we train master trainers who commit themselves to training others. If we manage to train 40 trainers who each commit to training 25 trainees twice, we get around 1000 trained therapists."

He also suggests leveraging technology: "One other method that we developed is an app where the therapist meets the client online but uses the same method of treatment called SEE FAR CBT, making it accessible to those who can't leave home for various reasons."

"The recent pre-war civic conflict surfaced what sociologists warned us about – the growing rift in Israeli society," Prof. Lahad reflects. "This, combined with the feeling that the state is changing course, the global loss of trust in authorities, the social media 'poison' of fake news, the colossal failure of the IDF, the ongoing inability of the government to resolve the conflict and bring an end to the attacks, and the burning issue of the hostages, is causing attrition in the morale and mental health of Israelis."

As Israel marks one year since the October 7 attack, the nation remains haunted by the sounds and images of that horrific day and the war that followed. The collective and personal scars run deep, with mental health professionals warning of a looming crisis as hundreds of thousands grapple with trauma.

"The cruelty of the savage infiltrators has ignited a dormant Jewish post-Holocaust fear of annihilation and disappointment that the state did not manage to fulfill the basic belief of 'never again,'" Prof. Lahad concludes. "It is, therefore, a long road to recovery. Because of the mistrust in authorities, we believe the recovery will have to be bottom-up – back to the local communities, back to human relationships."

Prof. Ofrit Shapira Berman offers a powerful call to action: "I cannot be hopeless about our future as a nation and a society. The Holocaust gave us a nation of our own. October 7th has to have a similar impact on our lives. It is clear that no other nation or people has such a powerful ability to transform suffering and trauma into strength and success, but with that said, ultimately, healing will require placing the spiritual dimension of life at the center because emerging from this crisis will take a sustained, society-wide effort, working together, from the grassroots community level up to the highest echelons of leadership."

NATAL's frontline response

NATAL (Israel Trauma and Resiliency Center) has been at the forefront of addressing the psychological fallout of the October 7 attacks. The organization operates dedicated helplines for civilians and veterans, funded by the Ministry of Defense. Immediately following October 7, these helplines saw an unprecedented call surge, with over 23,000 in the first month alone. To date, NATAL's helplines have received over 53,000 calls, with dramatic spikes during escalations like the Iran missile threats.

To meet the increased demand and complexity of needs, NATAL has significantly expanded its workforce, developing innovative therapeutic approaches like neurofeedback therapy and tailored interventions for specific populations like reservists and soldiers' families. NATAL's Career Development Unit is providing specialized support for young adults transitioning from military reserves back to work.

NATAL's 24/7 Helpline provides psychological support to those affected by war and terror-related trauma. Call *3362 for assistance.

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US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy has declared widespread loneliness in the United States a public health epidemic, warning that it poses health risks as deadly as smoking a dozen cigarettes daily and costs the health industry billions of dollars annually, reports NBC News.

In an 81-page report released Tuesday, Murthy revealed that about half of US adults say they've experienced loneliness. "We now know that loneliness is a common feeling that many people experience. It's like hunger or thirst. It's a feeling the body sends us when something we need for survival is missing," Murthy told The Associated Press in an interview.

The surgeon general expressed concern about the prevalence of loneliness, stating, "Millions of people in America are struggling in the shadows, and that's not right. That's why I issued this advisory to pull back the curtain on a struggle that too many people are experiencing."

Research indicates that Americans have become less engaged with worship houses, community organizations, and even their own family members in recent decades, reporting a steady increase in feelings of loneliness. The number of single households has doubled over the last 60 years.

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the crisis, with schools and workplaces closing their doors and millions of Americans isolating at home away from relatives or friends. People reduced their friend groups and time spent with friends during this period. In 2020, Americans spent about 20 minutes a day in person with friends, down from 60 minutes daily nearly two decades earlier. Young people aged 15 to 24 have been particularly affected, reporting a 70% drop in time spent with friends during the same period.

The report highlights the severe health risks associated with loneliness. It increases the risk of premature death by nearly 30% and elevates the likelihood of stroke, heart disease, depression, anxiety, and dementia. However, Murthy did not provide specific data on deaths directly attributed to loneliness or isolation.

To address this issue, Murthy is calling on workplaces, schools, technology companies, community organizations, parents, and individuals to take steps to boost the country's connectedness. He advises people to join community groups and put down their phones when catching up with friends, urges employers to carefully consider their remote work policies, and recommends health systems provide training for doctors to recognize the health risks of loneliness.

The surgeon general pointed to technology, particularly social media, as a significant factor in the increasing loneliness problem. One study cited in the report found that people who used social media for two hours or more daily were more than twice as likely to report feeling socially isolated than those who used such apps for less than 30 minutes a day.

"There's really no substitute for in-person interaction," Murthy emphasized. "As we shifted to use technology more and more for our communication, we lost out on a lot of that in-person interaction. How do we design technology that strengthens our relationships as opposed to weaken them?"

The report suggests that technology companies implement protections for children, especially concerning their social media behavior, to mitigate the negative impacts of digital communication on real-world relationships.

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Following a long battle with neurological issues, Hollywood actor Robin Williams took his own life a decade ago at age 63 on August 11. His widow said every region of his brain was under attack, causing him to feel like he was disintegrating.

After Williams' death, the conversation around mental health in the entertainment industry shifted, and celebrities began speaking out about their struggles.

Lisa Jakub, who co-starred with Williams in Mrs. Doubtfire, revealed he was one of the first to speak to her about mental health issues and was involved with hiring local veterans on set. She expressed gratitude for the experience and his kindness.

Williams, a legendary comedian and Oscar-winning actor is remembered for his iconic roles in films like Aladdin, Good Will Hunting, Mrs. Doubtfire, and Dead Poets Society. His career took off with the sitcom Mork & Mindy in 1978, and he won a Grammy for Best Comedy Album in 1979 after attending Juilliard on a scholarship and starting his stand-up career in San Francisco.

Williams struggled with serious neurological issues, including Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia, which impacted his work, led to social and marital problems, and ultimately to his suicide in 2014.

Financial troubles led him to take undesired roles to earn money, and his career suffered due to fatigue, audience disinterest, typecasting, and substance abuse.

Despite his battles, Williams continued performing and left a vast artistic legacy, winning numerous awards for acting and comedy.

Zelda Williams, his daughter, made her directorial debut this year.1

Autopsy results showed that Williams did not consume drugs or alcohol before taking his own life.

Sources: Forbes, Independent, ABC News, Fox News, New York Post, Nine, El Universal, El Sol del Bajio, Los Andes, RTL, Hello Magazine, Blikk.

This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.

The post A decade after: How Robin Williams changed the conversation around mental health appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

The genetic composition of high school friends can influence an individual's mental health, including traits related to psychiatric disorders, substance abuse, and addiction, which can have long-term consequences well into early adulthood.

A study led by a Rutgers Health professor has found that an individual's genetic predisposition to mental health and substance use disorders can significantly influence the risk of friends and peers developing the same disorders, even after controlling for genetic and socioeconomic factors.

The study highlights the emerging field of socio-genomics, which explores how an individual's genotype can impact the observable traits and health outcomes of their social network, particularly among those who attended the same school.

Genetic effects on mental health and substance use disorders were found to be stronger between school peers than those growing up in the same area, highlighting the importance of network-based and social interventions to address these socially costly disorders.

Genetic influences were found to be especially strong with peers in the same educational track

Peers' genetic traits can influence an individual's health trajectory, including their risk of developing drug and alcohol use disorders, depression, and anxiety.

The genetic influence of peers on psychiatric and addiction disorders can persist for at least a decade after school.

The study, published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, used Swedish national data to assess peer social genetic effects on psychiatric disorders.

Sources: Iatronet, HTWorld, Newsroom Odisha, Fox 28 Spokane, Social News XYZ, Fox 41 Yakima, Newswise, Mirage News, Global News, Medical Xpress, US News, Top Santé, MDR

This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.

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