Interfaith engagement strengthens mental resilience in Israel

In the wake of the Hamas-led attacks on 7 October 2023 and subsequent war, the atmosphere of tension and conflict has severely impacted the mental health of people of all faiths in Israel. To support access to mental health services and in turn boost resilience, a WHO-supported initiative has been leveraging the influence of religious leaders from both Jewish and Muslim communities to connect people with critical mental health support.

Led by Mosaica, a nongovernmental organization that aims to promote interfaith dialogue and cooperation, the Religious Leaders and Mental Health project recognizes that religious leaders are deeply embedded within their communities and hold a unique position of trust. It has established a tripartite partnership among religious leaders, community leaders and mental health experts bridging mental health services and communities in need.

By training and engaging religious and community leaders on mental health issues, the project enables them to help their communities to recognize the importance of addressing mental distress and accessing support. This approach has not only made mental health care more accessible at local and national levels, but has also reduced the stigma often associated with seeking help.

Responding to a surge in mental distress

After the October 2023 attacks, many in Israel were deeply traumatized. For the Arab minority there, mental health challenges also increased intensely. According to the Muslim coordinator of the project, "Many reported a mixture of feelings, some were traumatized by the attacks of Hamas, especially as many Arabs were also killed and kidnapped by them, while others identified with Palestinian suffering in the aftermath and, with Israel's military operation, were feeling helpless."

To respect and respond to these complex feelings, specific, tailored tools were developed independently for both communities.

With the support of WHO, Mosaica engaged leading trauma psychologists to develop specialized training programmes for religious and community leaders. These leaders, once trained, went on to hold around 100 support sessions in diverse settings, including synagogues, mosques and community centres, and even temporary residences for evacuees.

This widespread outreach, coupled with tailored mental health tools for both Jewish and Muslim communities, ensured that support was professional as well as culturally sensitive and relevant. Throughout the project, trauma specialists were on hand to provide or refer individuals to urgent psychological support.

Community engagement was especially critical in addressing the deep psychological wounds across Israeli society. Religious and community leaders, familiar with the struggles of their communities, were able to offer solace, promote healing and guide individuals towards mental health services when needed.

Furthermore, religious pronouncements issued by these leaders significantly increased the acceptance of mental health services provided by the Israeli Ministry of Health within their communities, illustrating how faith-driven initiatives can transform attitudes towards care.

Interfaith cooperation on mental health

Ongoing collaboration between religious and community leaders and mental health professionals was a key feature of the project, ensuring continuous engagement and swift response to urgent cases, such as evacuee trauma or youth at risk of violence.

Since the beginning of the project, over 1000 leaders from Mosaica's network of religious leaders in Muslim and Jewish communities have amplified messages promoting mental health and resilience, and some 300 Muslim and 400 Jewish religious, community and pedagogical leaders have participated in direct training and programming.

So far, over 200 Muslim and Jewish youth have received professional mental health treatment, and 4000 Muslim and Jewish community members have participated in ceremonies, conferences and services devoted to resilience and reflection, led by those trained by the project.

Rebuilding resilience from the depths of trauma

Rabbi Yadid, the Jewish coordinator of the project, shared, "The role of religious leadership in promoting community resilience and mental health support is pivotal, especially in more closed and traditional communities where these issues are often met with hesitancy or avoidance. When religious leaders collectively speak out, emphasizing the importance of addressing mental health, it breaks the silence and removes the stigma surrounding these topics."

He added, "This has a ripple effect, strengthening the resilience and recovery of the entire community. We see this as a crucial approach - one that proved effective during COVID-19 and is now being applied to address conflict-related traumas."

Religious leaders have learned to facilitate discussions on processing trauma and have empowered individuals to share their experiences, fostering a supportive environment for collective healing. Their involvement has not only enhanced individual resilience but also strengthened community bonds, enabling mutual support in the face of adversity.

By prioritizing the training and engagement of religious and community leaders, a robust framework for resilience has been established that is benefitting individuals and the broader community.

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