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Sheba Medical Center forged a partnership with Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) to enhance and broaden the mental health support provided by Sheba medical personnel to war victims in Israel who have experienced unimaginable trauma.
This partnership aims to bolster Sheba Medical Center’s trauma treatment network across Israel, increasing its capacity by 50%. Funds will be allocated to establish mental health centers within existing Israel Defense Forces (IDF) veteran rehabilitation facilities (Beit Halochem) nationwide, with a focus on the southern and northern regions.
“The current war has exposed significant deficiencies in mental health care within our system. The joint effort of Sheba and FIDF, made possible by this partnership, will allow us to swiftly respond to the numerous affected individuals, providing them with timely therapeutic interventions,” said Professor Amitai Ziv, Director of Sheba’s Rehabilitation Hospital. “Recognizing this urgent need, we immediately understood the importance of expanding our professional reach and impact across the country in the regions that need it most.”
This collaborative effort will ensure that individuals, including those living in the northern and southern regions, can access the best possible mental health treatment near their homes. Further, this initiative will enhance the public healthcare system’s ability to address post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by training additional therapists who will acquire the knowledge, professional tools, and technologies necessary for providing trauma treatment.
“We are at a critical point in time where therapeutically we have a window of opportunity of several months to effectively intervene in patients with ASD (Acute Stress Disorder) and prevent deterioration into chronic post-traumatic stress disorder,” added Prof. Ziv.
According to Steve Weil, CEO of FIDF, “When hundreds of thousands of Israel’s courageous soldiers were called to service more than three months ago, we recognized the gravity of what they would face and the potential trauma they would endure, and therefore mobilized to find macro solutions across the nation for IDF soldiers and their families. We are humbled to partner with world-renowned Sheba Medical Center in providing the best possible care for the heroes who make inconceivable sacrifices for the safety and security of Israel.”
Published February 5, 2024, Sheba Global
