NATAL, Israel's Trauma Center for Victims of Terror and War, is an apolitical non-profit organization established to help treat victims of terrorism and war and military veterans for post-traumatic stress disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder

Posttraumaticstress disorder is a severe anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to any event that results in psychological trauma. This event may involve the threat of death to oneself or to someone else, or to one's own or someone else's physical, sexual, or psychological integrity,...

 (PTSD).

History

NATAL was founded in 1998 as the brainchild of Judith Yovel Recanati and Dr. Yossi Hadar primarily to treat those suffering from PTSD as a result of the Yom Kippur War

Yom Kippur War

The Yom Kippur War, Ramadan War or October War , also known as the 1973 Arab-Israeli War and the Fourth Arab-Israeli War, was fought from October 6 to 25, 1973, between Israel and a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria...

.

It is chaired by Ms Yovel Recanati, and its current CEO is Orly Gal.

In 2004, American Friends of NATAL was established to help raise awareness and resources in North America. The UK Friends of NATAL was established in 2009.

In 2008 NATAL won the President's Medal for Volunteerism.

Mission

According to NATAL's English website, the mission of the organization is

"To provide emotional and psychological treatment and assistance to any Israeli suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as a result of the Arab-Israeli conflict.

To train professionals and at risk populations throughout Israel in prevention and coping mechanisms for PTSD.

To advance awareness and knowledge about National Psychotrauma and terror and war related PTSD in Israeli society."

Programs

• Clinical unit (subsidized psychotherapy)
• Hotline
  • Children's hotline
• Testimonial project
• Mobile clinical unit
• Social therapeutic club
• Trauma studies center