Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the country has suffered from bombings in large areas in a way that may leave many citizens with anxiety and even Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The first lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, who arrived in Israel Sunday evening, met Monday with Michal Herzog, the wife of the country's president, Isaac Herzog, and with representatives of the Israeli trauma coalition and the organization “Natal.”
"The State of Israel is a role model for us. Unfortunately, you have very rich experience in this field, and yet your country still manages to prosper and survive, even under incessant attacks," Zelenska told the delegates. "Yes, we are resilient, but resilience comes with a high mental price. Research shows that most Ukrainians now suffer from anxiety and post-trauma. From children who witnessed their parents being injured to adults whose entire family was wiped out by missiles."
The First Lady of Israel, Michal Herzog, and the First Lady of Ukraine, @ZelenskaUA, today met with leaders and experts in the treatment of children and youth suffering PTSD in conflict zones >>https://t.co/4C3xFzkVVm pic.twitter.com/ksRarjAf9v
— Office of the President of Israel (@IsraelPresident) June 19, 2023
During the meeting, the first ladies of Israel and Ukraine heard the story of 31-year-old Noi Shneor, an English teacher from Sderot and a mother of three children. "I was born and raised in Sderot, and I remember very well the first missile attack on our city," shared Schneor. "I was only 10 years old at the time and I played like all the children along with my friends in the neighborhood, during that time we didn't have shelters or protected spaces for shelter."
Shneor also shared the last experience she experienced from a missile attack, a week before Operation Shield and Arrow. "At 15:00 I received a warning from the Home Front Command about a missile attack, and suddenly the alarm went off and in a moment I found myself lying down with my children in the street and protecting them. One of the missiles fell right next to us," shared the young mother. "I was taken to a rehab center for several hours, just to be able to recover from the trauma I experienced, and this is just one example. I want to thank the amazing center we have in the city and the people who work there who are always available for us."
Israelis bring innovative #PTSD therapy to Ukrainian front lines #Israel #Ukraine https://t.co/dK47emXuvX pic.twitter.com/2fdFgVsrOx
— Eli Dror (@edrormba) March 5, 2023
Earlier on Monday, Zelenska and Herzog visited Sheba Tel Hashomer Medical Center. Zelenska said: "I hope that we will create new programs in order to strengthen our health system, especially when it comes to mental health and the support and rehabilitation of the injured citizens. Our medical system cannot cope alone.” Professor Yitshak Kreis, the director of the medical center, replied to her: "We are ready to provide assistance and hope to every person, with the help of the knowledge and experience of our people, for the sake of a safer and better future for all."
