The guns may fall silent, but the internal battle often intensifies. Suicide rates historically rise in the aftermath of conflict—not during it. This counterintuitive truth is central to Mental Health First Aid Israel's post-war programming.
In the immediate chaos, survival instincts keep people focused. But as the adrenaline fades and normalcy returns, despair can set in. Soldiers return to lives that feel foreign. Survivors face anniversaries alone. The world expects recovery that hasn't happened.
MHFA Israel is training volunteers to remain vigilant in the months and years after trauma—not just the days. Warning signs include withdrawal, hopelessness, increased substance use, and giving away possessions.
Every conversation, every check-in, can be a lifeline.
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