Trauma Coalition Urges Party Leaders to Anchor Mental Health in Coalition Pacts
Trauma-care organizations urge political leaders to anchor mental health support and resilience center funding in the next government's coalition agreements, warning of a growing national crisis.
Days before the elections, a coalition of resilience and trauma-care organizations is calling on political party leaders to embed trauma care into the guidelines of the next government and coalition agreements, warning against a worsening national resilience crisis.
Urgent Demands and National Resilience
The appeal is led by the Israel Trauma Coalition, alongside the Reservist Wives Forum, the National Union of Students, and the Victims of Hostile Acts Organization. These bodies outline four immediate steps required to ensure continued support for trauma victims and to strengthen civilian preparedness.
One of the central demands concerns the funding of resilience centers. The organizations warn that heading into 2027, the system faces severe budgetary uncertainty amid the possibility of significant budget cuts. Currently, 14 local resilience centers operate across Israel, alongside a national center providing services to roughly 220 municipalities lacking a local facility. According to the groups, the national center has treated over 20,000 trauma victims, coordinates mental health care for party massacre survivors, and operates a routine and emergency helpline.
Support for Reservists and Academic Institutions
Another demand entails establishing a dedicated center for the families of reservists, offering diagnosis, guidance, and individual, couple, and family therapy. The appeal argues that prolonged reserve duty cycles and frequent transitions between combat and civilian life place a heavy emotional burden on family units, while existing responses remain fragmented and insufficient.
In higher education, the organizations demand securing the ongoing operation of the "Resilience in Academia" initiative, established with philanthropic funding in cooperation with the National Union of Students and managed by the Israel Trauma Coalition. The project established 22 resilience centers, with data showing over 100,000 students and staff members receiving assistance. The organizations request turning this funding into public, permanent allocations integrated into the multi-year plan of the Council for Higher Education.
Local Preparedness and Pilot Programs
Additionally, the groups call for advancing a broad pilot program for a "Resilience Preparedness Voucher in Municipalities" designed to map gaps in psychosocial readiness among local authorities and formulate corresponding action plans. The model was developed by the Israel Trauma Coalition, which relies on its activities across approximately 160 municipalities nationwide.
"We call on all party leaders to commit to national resilience and trauma care as a supreme strategic priority for the coming years, ensuring no survivor or reservist family is left behind," stated a representative of the coalition.
