Sheba & FIDF’s ‘Returning to Life’ National Center for Victims of Mental Trauma

For many veterans, the battle doesn’t end when the fighting stops. The psychological toll of service can linger long after the battlefield fades. The need for compassionate, comprehensive mental health care has never been more urgent. Recognizing this, Sheba Medical Center, in collaboration with Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF), the IDF Disabled Veterans Organization, and the Ministry of Defence, established the ‘Returning to Life’ National Center for Victims of Mental Trauma.

A Lifeline for Veterans

With clinics now operating in Nahariya, Haifa, Be’er Sheva, and Jerusalem—and a Tel Aviv location on the horizon—the center provides evidence-based therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), prolonged exposure therapy, and art therapy. This initiative is transforming lives and offering veterans and their families a renewed sense of hope and resilience.

A Veteran’s Perspective: Alon Kaminer

Alon Kaminer, a veteran who has experienced the challenges of recovery after combat, serves as a powerful advocate for programs like ‘Returning to Life’ National Center for Victims of Mental Trauma: “I got injured during the last war. As of this day, I’m finishing one year and two months of basically living in Sheba,” Alon Kaminer begins. His path to recovery started in the intensive care unit, moved through the rehabilitation unit, and now continues with daily therapy. Although not a participant in the program, Alon’s experiences highlight the profound need for comprehensive mental health care for veterans.

“Rehabilitation is more than just physical therapy,” Alon shares. “When you get injured during combat, you come back with a lot of thoughts and very hard experiences that you need to digest.”

Alon’s reflections underscore the importance of addressing mental health challenges early, and his voice amplifies the call for accessible and compassionate care. “This whole community of multidisciplinary therapists is great because when you need to go back to your life, it’s not only just about walking. It’s more than that, and it’s very important,” he says.

Expanding Access to Mental Health Support

Prof. Amitai Ziv, Director of the Rehabilitation Hospital at Sheba, described the efforts to expand mental health services: “So very soon after the war started, with an obvious understanding that we are about to embark on a tsunami of needs for mental support—not only for the veterans but for their families, their communities, and perhaps even the Jewish people in general who has been empathic to this very need—we increased capacity. With the help of FIDF and the IDF Disabled Veterans Organization, we’ve set up five clinics, staffed by Sheba personnel trained to meet the veterans, their families, and beyond.”

Prof. Ziv highlights the importance of early intervention: “There is a window of opportunity in the initial year or so where intervention could actually prevent the chronic state of mental stress. With professional support and evidence-based procedures, we are privileged to apply all that we know on the many veterans. Over a thousand veterans have already been treated, but the expectation is many more thousands, with much better accessibility through these clinics.”

Transforming Trauma into Hope

The partnership between Sheba and FIDF is redefining mental health care for Israel’s veterans, combining compassion with cutting-edge innovation.

Yoel Har-Even, VP of Global Affairs, expressed gratitude for the partnership: “Allow me to send my deep gratitude and thanks for you taking the journey with us, healing our heroes. Together, we have already treated thousands of veterans, allowing them to return to life. I’m sure that the partnership that we assembled together will allow the state of Israel, the society in Israel to flourish and propel and to recover again.”

Prof. Yitshak Kreiss, Director General of Sheba Medical Center, shared his thoughts on the broader vision: “It’s a great privilege for me to stand here at Sheba and to have the chance to thank you in person for the strong partnership that we’ve generated. This partnership allowed us to implement the national center for treating PTSD for the veterans and their families.”

The ‘Returning to Life’ National Center for Victims of Mental Trauma exemplifies the life-changing impact of partnerships like the one between Sheba and FIDF. These efforts remind us that healing extends beyond the physical, reaching deep into the minds and hearts of those who have sacrificed for their country. Together, Sheba and FIDF are building a foundation of hope and resilience, ensuring that every veteran has the opportunity to rediscover their strength, and rebuild their lives.