The men and women who rush toward danger often carry it home with them. First responders—soldiers, police, paramedics, firefighters—face elevated suicide risk worldwide. In post-October 7 Israel, this risk is acute.
Mental Health First Aid Israel has developed specialized programs for first-responder communities. Training addresses unique challenges: the pressure to appear strong, the difficulty of transitioning from emergency to ordinary life, and the accumulation of secondary trauma.
Peer support is key. Responders often trust their own. MHFA Israel trains designated peers to recognize distress and open conversations without judgment.
Protecting those who protect us means watching for their invisible wounds.
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