The profound mental health impact of the October 7th atrocities and the subsequent long war has created an urgent and far-reaching crisis across Israel. With estimates suggesting that over 500,000 people may face psychological issues, predominantly PTSD, the need for comprehensive trauma treatment and resilience-building has never been more critical. The Jerusalem Foundation swiftly rose to this challenge, establishing a variety of innovative programs designed to support the diverse communities of Jerusalem.
A pioneering step in this effort is the Resilience Center of Jerusalem, a partnership with Shaare Zedek Medical Center. This center offers a crucial lifeline for individuals with severe PTSD who have not responded to conventional therapies. It utilizes Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP), an innovative approach where ketamine acts as an aid within a comprehensive, psychiatrist-led psychotherapeutic framework. Uniquely located within the community rather than on the hospital campus, this intentional choice helps to reduce stigma and alleviate the anxiety associated with seeking mental health treatment.
Beyond clinical intervention, the Resilience Farm at Yaelim—the Ein Yael Nature Therapy Center—offers powerful nature-based healing. Originally serving marginalized youth, Ya’elim rapidly expanded its model post-October 7th, hosting nearly 3,000 participants for healing events and officially opening the Resilience Farm in March 2024. Recognized by the Ministry of Defense, it now offers structured therapy to restore stability. Crucially, its programs include “Shavim” (Returning Home) for high-risk veterans overlooked by official systems and dedicated support groups for spouses and parents and children healing together. The Farm also incorporates therapeutic horseback riding and animal-assisted nature therapy, offering emotional recovery through connection.
The power of community and movement is harnessed in a dedicated Soccer (Football) program for veterans and trauma survivors, a collaboration between Hapoel Jerusalem and Beit HaLochem (Veteran’s Center). This initiative provides a healthy outlet and a safe, empowering space for recovery, offering weekly training, official uniforms, and community engagement opportunities. Finally, the Psik Theater is leveraging the power of drama to help veterans and survivors, utilizing performance not only to raise awareness and reduce stigma but also to encourage diagnosis and foster a resilience and rehabilitation center.
We have learned over the last 2 years that recovery is a holistic journey—bridging clinical innovation, nature, sport, and the arts. Unfortunately, there are more and more people in need of this support, and the urgency of treatment is only increasing. We continue to expand capacity in all of the programs described to reach as many people as we can.