Trauma, as defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary, means “a disordered psychic or behavioral state resulting from severe mental or emotional stress or physical injury.”
Beginning with the Hamas terror attacks on Oct. 7 and continuing with Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, the atmosphere in the country over the past three months has been one of almost continuous trauma for many sectors of Israel’s population.
In an effort to handle the expected upsurge in trauma patients throughout Israel, on January 1 Tel Aviv University opened a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) clinic at the university, which is being operated by TAU’s National Center for Traumatic Stress and Resilience.
The clinic is one component of the planned center, which will include a vast clinical research component, a training center, and a policy-making center for traumatic stress and PTSD. One year ago, construction commenced on the Miriam and Moshe Shuster Building for the Center for Traumatic Stress and Resilience, including a treatment clinic, cutting-edge laboratories, and the Sam and Agi Moss Wing, which was slated to open in late 2025.
The Magazine recently interviewed Prof. Yair Bar-Haim, head of the center, who explained the importance and necessity of opening the clinic at this time.
After the traumatic events of Oct. 7, Bar-Haim realized that the schedule needed to be accelerated. “We realized that we could not wait for the original date,” he said, “and that we had to move fast to open the clinic for treatment.”
Tel Aviv University encouraged him to move up the date, provided temporary space for the clinic in the student dormitories, and authorized the necessary funding to get the clinic underway.
Bar-Haim explained that usually, clinicians wait at least a month after the occurrence of traumatic events to diagnose PTSD because the symptoms will often recede after several weeks.
“I realized we would have to be ready two or three months later with a strong clinical response. For some people in Israel, the trauma has already occurred, and it is two and a half months later. By the time they get to us, they could have PTSD, and treatment is appropriate. Providing treatment in a timely fashion can also increase the chance of a better remission.
“Therefore, it is good to start treatment as soon as possible. For example, we treat reservists who are starting to be symptomatic but are still part of their IDF units and feel capable of serving and will be moving back to Gaza. The hope is that they are resilient enough to do it; but if they show significant symptoms, they will be removed from their units and will need treatment.”
He added that setting up a clinic at the level and expertise of the TAU clinic could have easily taken several years, but due to the goodwill and hard work of the university staff, the clinic was ready to open on January 1.
Bar-Haim said that according to estimates, this year will see an increase of 30,000 new cases of PTSD in Israel. “Even before the war started, the mental health system, in both the private and public sectors, was overwhelmed.”
TAU moved quickly and hired nine of the most experienced PTSD therapists in Israel, and the clinic now has 33 mental health professionals.
“It will be the largest clinic specializing in PTSD in Israel, and we hope to provide effective evidence-supported treatment to a large number of patients,” he said.
The clinic will be led by Dr. Ofir Levi, formerly commander of the IDF’s Unit for PTSD, and currently teaching at TAU’s Bob Shapell School of Social Work. The National Center for Traumatic Stress and Resilience is headed by Bar-Haim of TAU’s School of Psychological Sciences.
