Chibuki

A project for the prevention and treatment of depression and anxiety in young children in Israel according to October 7, 2023

supported by

Background

The idea of “Chibuki” was born after the second Lebanon war. To date, “Chibuki” has helped over 150,000 children in Israel and in other war and disaster zones such as Japan, Turkey and Ukraine.

The shock of October 7, 2023 and the experiences of the war afterwards have led to a sharp increase in anxiety among children in Israel. Against this backdrop and according to estimates by the Ministry of Health, there is an urgent need to treat more than 220,000 children aged 3–10 years (15%) who are suffering from mental stress as a result of the war and require psychological support.

To make matters worse, there is a serious nationwide shortage of child therapists for the 3–9 age group. Even before the outbreak of the war, waiting times for psychological treatment for children were over a year. Today, the waiting lists are more than a year and a half.

Project description

“Hibuki” offers a preventive therapeutic program based on a special protocol that involves a special therapy doll called “Chibuki”. This helps children to deal with their feelings – through the psychological mechanism of projecting their own feelings and actively taking responsibility for the doll’s care.

“Chibuki” guides the children through the processing of their traumatic events. It reduces emotional stress and prevents the development of PTSD.