Thousands of Israeli civilians have been exposed to terror or security-related events and thousands of soldiers have experienced difficult combat events. Many of them still carry emotional scars, painful memories and  invisible wounds which also affect those close to them.

From the start of the war following October 7th, Israel has been in a state of collective trauma, mourning the lives lost and the impact of terror on the communities. In the first hours of October 7th, NATAL’s Helpline fielded calls from citizens hiding in their safe rooms. In 2023 received 50’000 calls since the beginning of the war, nearly twice the number of total calls in 2022. With the continuously growing demand NATAL has tripled the number of Helpline volunteers.

In the beginning of the war, NATAL sent mental health professionals to hotels housing evacuated communities to provide mental health first aid interventions. As Israeli society transitioned from the initial emergency phase to an “emergency routine,” NATAL’s Clinical Unit received hundreds of new patients, six times the pre-war number and hundreds of therapists were recruited.

At the same time the Career Development’s mentorship and career coaching programs continue to see high demand among reserve soldiers returning home in need of support during their transition back to civilian life.

Over the last two years, NATAL has significantly expanded its intervention and treatment infrastructures and continues to adapt to the evolving needs of this unprecedented reality. Treating trauma of this scale is a national endeavor, and NATAL is dedicated to rebuilding the resilience and emotional well-being of Israelis.