Latest news with #psychologicalsupport
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Healing the battlefield: IDF opens mental health access for soldiers within 24 hours
IDF soldiers are suffering from sleep disturbances, concentration issues, anxiety, mood swings, decreased appetite and more. IDF soldiers are not only dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder, but also suffering from sleep disturbances, concentration issues, anxiety, mood swings, decreased appetite, and more, according to Col. (Dr.) Yaakov Rothschild, head of the IDF's Mental Health Division. In an interview with Walla, Rothschild provided a comprehensive overview of how the military is addressing soldiers' psychological needs amid the ongoing war. He discussed what soldiers are revealing behind closed doors, how mental health professionals identify distress, and the role of artificial intelligence, which has already been integrated into therapy rooms and is expected to expand further. He also highlighted a significant shift in how the IDF addresses mental health, particularly the breakdown of stigma surrounding mental health officers (Kabanim), and a newfound openness in discussing suicide once a taboo topic within the military. 'Every such case is investigated,' Rothschild said. 'As the body responsible for mental health in the IDF, we treat every incident with the utmost seriousness. We are dealing with matters of life and death.' A dramatic transformation since October 7 'The transformation within the IDF's mental health system since the start of Operation Iron Swords has been dramatic,' he said. 'Access to Kabanim has risen significantly for combat troops, support personnel, and rear units alike. This is due in large part to the enlistment of approximately 1,000 Kabanim since October 7.' Many of these professionals are treating soldiers on the front lines, sometimes under fire, providing real-time psychological support during combat operations. Reservists, Rothschild added, face unique psychological challenges not experienced by regular service members. 'Transitioning repeatedly between civilian life, military duty, and back to being a family member or employee often over the course of nearly two years creates a kind of loop,' he explained. 'This requires targeted mental preparation both before entering and after exiting combat zones.' The military has adopted a more proactive approach to emotional readiness, with efforts to make information accessible, reduce the fog of war, and focus on both individual and group resilience. 'This allows us to identify soldiers who may need professional attention,' Rothschild said. 'All IDF personnel, including commanders, are trained to recognize signs of psychological distress and to encourage peers to speak up when they see a problem.' Unprecedented investment in mental health The IDF Medical Corps has invested heavily in the mental health system, an area once treated as a secondary concern. Since the war began, more than 1,000 Kabanim have been active 800 of them reservists. Currently, five Kabanim are stationed in every observation battalion and brigade. Soldiers requesting a mental health consultation are now guaranteed to receive one within 24 hours. In a historic development, Kabanim have entered Gaza and southern Lebanon 80 times since the start of the war to help frontline units process traumatic events during active combat. The IDF has also launched a new reserve training track for future Kabanim, introduced a new position Mental Health Diagnostic Specialist and has handled over 3,000 new mental health cases since October 7. The Ta'atzumot day clinic has treated 800 soldiers and service members in its intensive therapy programs. According to Rothschild, 86% of those undergoing intensive treatment remained within military frameworks following therapy a significant indicator of the program's success.
Khaleej Times
20-07-2025
- Khaleej Times
Sharjah boy traumatised after car jumps red light, nearly hits him; police step in to help
Sharjah Police helped reassure a 7-year-old boy after a traffic incident left him in a state of extreme fear. Authorities responded quickly to his mother's report, which stated that the child refused to leave the house due to his mental state. The child, who lives in Khor Fakkan, was crossing through a pedestrian crossing, when a speeding vehicle approached. The vehicle, which had overtaken a red light, almost hit the child. Although the incident caused no bodily harm, the psychological impact was severe, prompting intervention from specialised teams. After receiving the report, authorities headed to the child's residence, giving him the psychological support through positive conversation, gifts and a guided tour by police. This was to help rebuild his confidence in his surroundings, feel secure, and boost his mental stability, said Colonel Dr Walid Khamis Al-Yimahi, Director of the Police Department of the Eastern Region. Legal action was taken against the driver; the vehicle was impounded for 30 days. Passing red lights not only leads to serious accidents, but also leaves profound psychological effects, especially for children, police stressed.
The Independent
09-06-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Psychological support system opens to infected blood victims
Thousands of people impacted by the infected blood scandal in England will be able to self refer to a bespoke psychological support NHS service, officials have announced. The nationwide service began a phased rollout in September, and is now open to people infected and affected across the country. The Infected Blood Psychological Service will include talking therapies; peer support and psychosocial support, NHS England said. More than 30,000 people in the UK were infected with HIV and hepatitis C after they were given contaminated blood and blood products between the 1970s and early 1990s. And more than 3,000 people have died as a result, while survivors are living with lifelong health implications. The new service is open to victims of the scandal as well as bereaved partners, parents, children and their extended families. People can self refer by phone or can be referred to the service by their GP. Officials said that a specialist therapist will help create tailored mental health plans for those in need of support. Claire Murdoch, national mental health director at NHS England, said: 'The contaminated blood scandal and the subsequent long fight for answers have had life-altering physical and psychological impacts for thousands across the country and the NHS is determined to ensure that anyone infected or affected can receive evidence-based support and treatment. 'It has been so important that the Infected Blood Psychological Service has been co-designed with members of the infected blood community to ensure the best and most personalised care possible, and we are very grateful to all our partners who have helped establish these vital new services.' Nicola Leahey, from Lancashire, was infected with Hepatitis C following blood transfusions in 1975 and/or 1980, and was part of the expert advisory group to the new service. 'After my diagnosis, I felt that my body had been violated, that I had been physically and mentally abused, stripped of my dignity, my self-esteem diminished, I mourned lost opportunities, I felt betrayed,' she said. 'So many of us have long awaited the opportunity to have professional support to try to cope with the trauma and life-long effects that we've been subjected to. 'I'm thrilled that this much-needed service is now operational for both those infected and affected members of the infected blood community across England.' Professor Meghana Pandit, co-national medical director for secondary care at NHS England, added: 'Following the recommendations of the Inquiry, this new service represents a vital step in ensuring patients and families affected in England can be offered tailored psychological treatment and support, and we are pleased that specialist clinics are now open in all areas of England. 'This bespoke psychological treatment is already making a difference to the lives of the first people to access it, and we now want to ensure everyone eligible is aware of the services provided.'
Daily Mail
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
From which tome did Rachel Kelly think every line was worth noting for future reference?
What book... ... are you reading now? I AM rereading Inventing Ourselves: The Secret Life of the Teenage Brain by Sarah-Jayne Blakemore. Unlike Blakemore, I'm no neuroscientist but I became interested in adolescent mental health about five years ago. As a writer in the mental health field and an ambassador for charities including SANE and Rethink Mental Illness, I was getting more and more messages from parents struggling with troubled teenagers. What did I recommend? Did I know a good therapist? I wanted to figure out ways we could support young people's psychological health. Blakemore's book prompted a lot of 'Ah ha!' moments – 'So that's what's going on in the teenage brain!' Right now I need a refresher on up-to-the-minute brain science: it is fascinating but also complex and Blakemore delivers. ... would you take to a desert island? IT would have to be Middlemarch by George Eliot – a classic for a reason: it's so good. I enjoy underlining bits of books that resonate and squirrelling them away in my commonplace book to savour later. Usually, I might note down four or five good lines. But I had to abandon the practice with Middlemarch as I was almost copying out the whole thing. I love Eliot's wise and compassionate view of the world. She combines a cracking plot stuffed with unforgettable characters with an ability to weave in observations on what makes us human. ... first gave you the reading bug? I remember a boring summer holiday on the coast of Wexford in Ireland aged about 11 or so and discovering Agatha Christie. I couldn't stop reading The Murder Of Roger Ackroyd to find out who'd done it. Detective stories help me stay present and alleviate my anxiety by diverting my thoughts from the past or future. ... left you cold? I struggled with Jonathan Haidt's The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness. Yes, there is indeed an epidemic of teenage anguish, for which Haidt squarely blames smartphones. But my experience over the past five years is that adolescent mental health problems are complicated and resistant to any single explanation. They also need multiple, imaginative and fresh solutions, and those Haidt offers are somewhat limited in that regard.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Drone attack on Odesa: houses and civilian infrastructure destroyed, one injured
The Russians have conducted a large-scale drone attack on the city of Odesa, injuring one person and causing destruction. Source: Oleh Kiper, Head of Odesa Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram Quote: "Our air defence forces destroyed most of the targets, but there is damage to civilian infrastructure in the city, including residential buildings and a car service station." Details: Kiper said one person had suffered a leg injury. Medics provided all the necessary treatment. In addition, nine people sought psychological support. All the appropriate services are working to deal with the aftermath of the Russian attack. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
