Nine months have passed since October 7, and while some believe Israel has entered a post-trauma phase, the reality for many is far from "back to normal." Numerous individuals continue to grapple with the effects of trauma, compounding an already significant issue. Even before October 7, Israel had a disproportionately high rate of PTSD, with one million people functionally impaired—three times more than in other OECD countries.
While not everyone affected by the events of October 7 will develop full-blown PTSD, it's fair to say that Israel remains in an ongoing trauma situation. Constant threats and daily tragic events continue to impact the population. The line between acute stress and stress disorders has blurred, as triggers can occur at any moment, potentially leading to various mental health issues, including PTSD.
Impacts of trauma
The impacts of trauma extend beyond individuals, affecting national security, domestic life, and physical health. Traumatized soldiers may not return to duty, while increased aggression at home can lead to accidents and domestic abuse. Trauma also correlates with cardiovascular and autoimmune diseases.
Although healing may take a decade or more, Israelis possess resilience, partly due to epigenetic factors inherited from survivors of equally challenging circumstances. However, it remains an imperative to address trauma healing systematically at community, regional, and national levels.
Prevention and treatment
People tend to use different types of language when describing their work in the field of trauma healing. Terms we hear frequently like “secondary prevention” or “early intervention” aim to prevent mental health disorders, but they are not types of treatment per se.
Primary prevention builds lifelong resilience, while secondary prevention occurs post-trauma to mitigate further issues. Treatment involves diagnostics, screening, and tertiary prevention or rehabilitation to avoid relapse.
But there’s a critical shortage of professionals who are qualified to treat mental health and this is a common issue worldwide. Now, with increased demand, the imbalance, especially in Israel, has become even greater.
ICAR’s mission
With mental health data fragmented, held by the government, and not integrated into the healthcare system, it’s time to build a resilient future for Israel. ICAR aims to connect stakeholders, advocate for mental health, and promote evidence-based interventions.
We are mapping the ecosystem, prioritizing impactful areas, and working towards integrating successful interventions into the national healthcare system. Our long-term goal is to accelerate trauma healing and proven effective interventions within a decade so we will no longer be needed.
A final note about PTSD
It's important to note that most people won't develop PTSD so sharing this information can provide relief to those worried about their mental health. While we must address these issues seriously, it's equally important to acknowledge that it's okay to be okay.
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