The Blogs: When the Sirens Quiet, the Trauma Speaks: Israel’s Next Battle Begins

As the war begins to wind down, many around the world are celebrating what feels like a turning point—the return of 20 living hostages to Israel. These are the moments we’ve waited for, prayed for, rallied for. But amid the relief, we must not look away from what comes next. For Israel, the trauma runs deep, touching soldiers, families, survivors, children, and entire communities. The most personal, and painful, battle is still ahead: navigating trauma, building resilience, and supporting growth.

Unprocessed Trauma Pours into the Vacuum

Where constant anxiety once ran rampant, a vacuum is now in place and two years of unprocessed national trauma is pouring into that vacuum.

When the living hostages returned home, the first step was medical triage to treat urgent physical needs. Those early assessments also uncover a host of complex PTSD-related symptoms from long-lasting violence and torture.

There are also the “invisible” needs of an entire Israeli population that have gone to war, had loved ones fighting, children in schools that have been interrupted, people that have been displaced, and so much more.

For Israelis, trauma runs deep, touching soldiers, families, survivors, children, and entire communities. The most personal, and painful, battle is still ahead: the long road to healing.

Complex Emotional Wounds Are Still Open

Flashbacks, severe distress, anxiety, hypervigilance, and other symptoms are common in those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

While PTSD is triggered from a single event, complex PTSD is caused by prolonged, repeated, or multiple traumatic events. Complex PTSD includes the core PTSD symptoms plus other symptoms like emotional dysregulation, negative self-views like feelings of shame and worthlessness, and relationship problems like feeling distant from loved ones or having a distorted view of relationships. There are organizations, like NATAL, that are taking steps to prevent PTSD from ever happening. But it takes work and tremendous long-term resources.

There is also “rolling trauma,” a phrase coined by NATAL’s Chief Psychologist Dr. Boaz Shalgi, which I discussed in a previous post. Rolling trauma is one crisis enveloped in more and more layers of trauma that impact individuals and societies. It is continuous, cumulative exposure to traumatic events, which differs from traditional post-traumatic stress disorder caused by a singular event. As it continues to roll, it collects more and more layers of trauma — both for the individual and their community.

Where constant anxiety once ran rampant, a vacuum is now in place and two years of unprocessed trauma is pouring into that vacuum.

What’s Being Done with International Support

The need for mental health services in Israel has never been greater than it is now. As the war appears to wind down , NATAL’s capacity is being tested like never before.

During the recent holiday period, NATAL took 1,341 calls in nine days, including about 80 calls per day, versus 30 per day in previous holiday periods. This is significant because the holidays are traditionally quieter periods for crisis lines. Overall, more than 1,300 crisis calls are coming into NATAL’s helplines every week, and every suicide or traumatic event triggers dozens of new calls, both from civilians and reservists.

Trauma has no timeline. For many, the symptoms only emerge when the immediate danger passes, and that’s certainly what we’ve been seeing. Treating these growing mental health needs takes a global community.

At American Friends of NATAL, we’re also coming together as a community on November 10th. Our annual gala is an evening dedicated to supporting the frontline of Israel’s mental health crisis to prevent PTSD, focus on post-traumatic growth, career development, a helpline, and scaling peer-to-peer support.

Ran Eliasaf and I spoke with Jane King, Host of Innovators, to discuss how international support, especially from the U.S. business community, is driving philanthropic action and trauma recovery in Israel. (Taken at NYSE/photo credit: Romina Hendlin)

In addition to the gala, we are convening key voices and mental health experts in our Resilience Under Pressure seminar on November 6th, hosted with the Israel Center on Addiction (ICA). This conference is dedicated to the urgent and growing intersection of trauma and substance use — interconnected challenges that stand among the most pressing issues facing communities worldwide.

In an era marked by uncertainty, collective stress, and rapid social change, this gathering will create a space for diverse voices to share perspectives, spark dialogue, and suggest collaborative solutions. Through evidence-based sessions, the event will bring together diverse professionals for mutual learning, dialogue, and practical exchange from both the Israeli and the U.S. professional communities.

There is an urgent and growing intersection of trauma and substance use — interconnected challenges that stand among the most pressing issues facing communities worldwide.

The Road Ahead

The wounds we cannot see are just as urgent as the ones we can. That simple truth must guide Israel’s next chapter. Whether it’s a returned hostage grappling with complex PTSD, a child who flinches at loud noises, or a reservist silently carrying the weight of what he witnessed, families that have been there to support and now feel the strain, NATAL is there to listen, treat, and heal.

The level of urgency may feel lowered, but we are far from whole. What happens next will define our recovery as a nation. It is our duty not just to bring our people home, but to bring them back to life.