Navigating national acute trauma: Developing and implementing a crisis mental health service for evacuated civilians following the October 7, 2023, attack in Israel.

BACKGROUND

This study describes the rapid development and implementation of a community-based mental health intervention for civilians evacuated during the October 7, 2023, terrorist attack in Israel.

METHODS

Applied at the Yearim Hotel, the services were led by volunteer professionals and based on an integration of existing guidelines with ongoing needed adaptations. Services encompassed a mental health clinic, therapeutic art studio, and a coordinated model of care emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration. Evaluation of the services drew on its utilization data and qualitative interviews with volunteer clinicians, members of the managerial team and evacuees.

RESULTS

Findings demonstrate high feasibility and acceptability of the applied model, as evidenced by sustained delivery, evacuee engagement, and smooth transition to government-backed services.

CONCLUSIONS

Structured, volunteer-led, community-integrated services can be rapidly deployed in crisis settings. The presented model of mental health services offers practical insights for future emergency preparedness.