The Post Trauma unit for civilians suffering from PSTD
21 months after the October 7 attacks and while the Iron Swords War has not yet ended, Israel is simultaneously grappling with the emerging consequences of the “Rising lion” campaign against Iran.
Israel is facing the biggest mental trauma event since the state early days – so psychiatry experts have estimated. Since the events of October 7 and according to forecasts, one out of every three first- and second-line victims of the war, including families and friends of abductees, wounded, victims or those who have lost a family member or acquaintance, may develop post-traumatic disorders. Unfortunately the numbers continue to rise as the fighting persists.
Immediate reactions to trauma include confusion, detachment, anxiety, and helplessness. Without timely intervention, these symptoms may develop into full-blown PTSD—a chronic and often treatment-resistant disorder that severely disrupts one’s daily, social, occupational, and emotional life.
Existing literature paints a somber picture, indicating that a significant proportion, exceeding 22%, of those exposed to life threatening combat events, such as the Second Lebanon War, the 2014 Gaza War, or the tragic events of 9/11, may develop PTSD. Among civilians enduring exceptionally violent events within the confines of their own homes, the toll is expected to be even higher.
PTSD is a complex, multi-symptom condition that may include: Intrusive flashbacks or nightmares, avoidance of trauma reminders, negative changes in mood and thinking, hyperarousal, emotional numbness, and more. Without intervention, these symptoms do not fade—they often worsen, causing serious psychological harm and functional disability. Around each affected individual, a ripple effect of social, familial, and economic damage can unfold, potentially reshaping entire communities.
The Post Trauma unit at Shamir Medical Center – Our Breakthrough Approach
At the Shamir Medical Center, we stand as global leaders in the research and treatment of veterans with PTSD. Israeli soldiers with treatment-resistant PTSD are now routinely referred to our center and get the combined treatment with exciting results.
The new unit for Civilian suffering from severe PTSD enable us to provide comprehensive, professional, ongoing treatment tailored to the unique needs of each patient. Our comprehensive program aim to provide essential care to 1,000 adults and children (over a period of two years) grappling with severe, unremitting symptoms of PTSD, necessitating comprehensive treatment.
In the pressure chamber, we change the pressure and the oxygen concentration. By doing that are generating a sense of lack of oxygen at the cellular level even though we have extra oxygen. All the repair mechanism are being activate: stems cells start to proliferate in the brain, new blood vessels start to regenerate, and for the first time we can see repair of non-healing wounds in the brain and the symptoms related to that area will resolve since we repaired the core responsible for the symptoms. The Trauma center at Sagol Hyperbaric center referred as a secondary care, which means that patients referred to us after primary care in the community and in the resilience centers has not been successful. We offer a multi-disciplinary team and treatment that combines mental therapy with biological therapy using oxygen, a three-month treatment program is given to each patient on a daily basis.
Expanding Access to Care
In addition to our work with soldiers, the trauma unit has gained extensive experience applying this combined protocol to diverse populations — including civilians suffering from non-combat-related PTSD, and both children and adults with unresolved childhood trauma.
Today, we are facing an urgent need to expand the unit’s clinical expertise and use it as a unique and effective tool for treating civilians suffering from severe trauma related to the current crisis — people who currently have no other effective options. The road to recovery is long, challenging, and financially demanding. Supporting the expansion of our trauma unit will allow us to provide comprehensive, professional, and personalized care for each individual. Its strategic location adjacent to the hospital’s emergency department enables simultaneous treatment of physical injuries and emotional trauma, reduces bureaucratic delays, and ensures that care is delivered at the critical time it is needed.
To date, hundreds of patients have been treated at the center. The trauma unit at the Sagol Center for Hyperbaric Medicine is designated as a second-line treatment provider — patients are referred to us after first-line community-based care and resilience centers have failed. The unit includes a multidisciplinary team and an integrated therapeutic protocol that combines psychological care with biologically-based HBOT in a daily three-month treatment plan for each patient.
The cost of this life-changing treatment is $10,000 per patient — and demand is only increasing.
We invite you to join us in this vital effort.