Perspectives

On the second day of the 2025 General Assembly, at the end of a panel called Healing a Nation: Addressing the Mental Health Crisis in Israel, one phrase captured the essence of what we are facing.  Israel is living through is a wicked problem: “a problem so complex that every attempted solution reveals new challenges."

International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Trauma raises the emotional temperature in households already under strain; it stretches coping mechanisms thin. And too often, women and children are the ones absorbing that volatility.

On September 12, 2025 ICAR Collective hosted a webinar on post-traumatic growth (PTG) with Dr. Edith Shiro—clinical psychologist, author of The Unexpected Gift of Trauma—and Prof. Eyal Fruchter—psychiatrist, PTSD expert, and ICAR’s Head of Medical & Scientific Affairs.  It was an hour of straight talk with no sugarcoating and real tools.

On September 9th, we gathered at Startup Nation Central in Tel Aviv for a morning that felt both urgent and grounding. The Margaret and Daniel Loeb Foundation, together with ICAR Collective, brought together grantees and donors to look closely at the mental health response in Israel after October 7.

This year, Oct 7th falls on Sukkot. The sukkah, fragile by design, reminds us that life is temporary and uncertain. It reflects where we find ourselves now—as a people dwelling in vulnerability.

Psychoeducation—teaching people about trauma and mental health—can transform confusion into clarity and restore dignity for those rebuilding their lives. Prof. Jonathan Huppert of Hebrew University joined our webinar about normalizing trauma responses, debunking myths around PTSD, and the urgent need for accessible tools that reach people where they are.

Tisha B’Av invites us to pause, grieve, and process centuries of Jewish loss while choosing healing for the next generation. This year, after nearly two years of war, its wisdom feels especially relevant.

Originally published in The Jerusalem Post on June 19, 2025. In a time of war, urgency is expected. Yet when it comes to trauma and mental health, Israel’s response remains fragmented and slow. This op-ed by ICAR Collective Executive Director Gila Tolub calls for coordinated national action to address the mental health crisis unfolding since October 7—before the long-term consequences deepen.

Prof. Eyal Fruchter shares why clear, science-based public messaging is one of the most powerful tools we have to support Israel’s mental health.

Suicidality isn’t new in Israel. But since October 7, 2023, it has become harder to ignore. What was once whispered in corners is now...

Shavuot is a holiday with many names: Chag HaBikkurim , Chag HaKatzir , Zman Matan Torateinu . It marks the offering of first fruits, the...

Israel’s 2025 state budget, published in the shadow of October 7, arrives at such a moment. For the first time, mental health is not buried in the fine print. It stands closer to center stage: visible, urgent, and intertwined with our national story.

Mental health needs a new playbook—one that embraces biology, tech, and global collaboration for real progress.

Trauma rewires the immune system—healing must address both biology and psychology to truly help the body let go.

Passover teaches us this: pain doesn’t disqualify us from freedom. It becomes the ground from which freedom grows.-

Israel’s trauma survivors need care tailored to crisis not benchmarks and blame. The real crisis is a fragmented system failing to adapt.

Adar comes in, and we are still at war. Hostages are in Gaza. Families are in mourning. Soldiers are fighting. And yet, Purim is here.

October 7 is a defining moment—but will it trap us in trauma or shape a future of resilience? How we frame it will shape generations to come

Exploring cannabis’ potential in treating PTSD: relief for symptoms but not a cure, balanced by therapies like CBT.

Psychoeducation fosters resilience, healing, and understanding, empowering individuals and communities to thrive after trauma.