In the Jerusalem Post’s special broadcast series “Healing Israel: A Nation in Trauma,” Yarden Abarbanel, program lead of Teva Pharmaceutical’s “Support the Soul” initiative, joined *JPost Israel Daily News* CEO Shanna Fuld to discuss the company’s evolving mental health efforts after October 7.
“Support the Soul was launched swiftly following October 7, aiming to do more during the challenging times Israel faces,” Abarbanel explained, highlighting the program’s emphasis on supporting trauma therapists nationwide. “Our focus is on the therapists, understanding they bear much of the emotional burden of Israeli society.”
The project, collaborating with 17 NGOs including the Israeli Trauma Coalition and Natal, offers trauma-specific training, clinical supervision, and resilience strategies to prevent burnout and secondary trauma. “Not all therapists received trauma training during their studies, so this is where we began,” she noted.
Abarbanel also mentioned a recent training with Bedouin therapists at Ben-Gurion University: “They say this course benefits not only their patients but also themselves. It’s a space for reflection and healing their own souls.”
Looking forward, Abarbanel emphasized the need for technological innovation and long-term planning. “You can't have new psychologists overnight; it takes years. That’s why providing ongoing support and tools to current therapists is crucial,” she concluded.
Written in collaboration with Teva