Mental Health Treatment
On the aftermath of October 7th
It has been 8 difficult months since the tragic massacre of October 7th, “Black Saturday”. All members of the Be'eri community – children, youth, adults, and the elderly – continue to grapple with the memories of that day and its impact on their lives.
Each survivor has their own harrowing story of who they lost and what they experienced on Black Saturday.
Today, 11 Kibbutz members are still captive in Gaza. As a result, the community’s prolonged mourning continues.
Multilayered emotional struggles
Since October 7th, many Kibbutz members have been living in temporary housing conditions – in hotel rooms and cramped apartments with little privacy. This ongoing displacement has further contributed to the emotional challenges following October 7th.
While the Kibbutz will be moving to their temporary community in Hatzerim this summer, they will not return to their permanent home until at least August 2027. This prolonged sense of “nomadic” living, coupled with the pain and trauma of this year, means that many Kibbutz members continue to feel stressed, anxious, and alone.
Most recently, evacuated Kibbutz members living in the Dead Sea were required to take shelter from the Iranian missile attack, triggering the very memories from October 7th they are trying to move forward from.
The importance of mental health treatments
Stabilizing and strengthening the community's mental health is critical to Kibbutz Be’eri’s rehabilitation and recovery. That is why, immediately after October 7th, we developed a network of mental health treatments and providers to support the community. This includes:
- Traditional treatments with a psychologist or psychiatrist
- Alternative therapies including acupuncture, massage therapy, movement therapy & more
- Therapeutic recreational activities such as ski trips, therapeutic sailing, therapeutic biking & more
- Community resiliency programing through cultural performances, events, and professionally lead trust building exercises
Support a kibbutz member
Sponsor Their Mental Health Treatments
Over the past 8 months, with the help of government funding and donations, Be’eri residents have had access to mental health support. In order for these services to continue through the move to Hatzerim and eventually the return Kibbutz Be’eri, we need your help.
- Annual cost for Mental Health treatment per person/per year = $5,000
- Cost to support an individual’s mental health treatments for 5 years = $25,000
We invite you to support an individual, couple, or family on their road to emotional health.
We deeply value your support during these challenging times. Knowing that our friends and partners stand by us on this journey back to Kibbutz Be’eri fills us with gratitude and strength.
