Israel is confronting what may become its next pandemic: trauma.

Since October 7, the psychological toll on Israeli society has grown rapidly. Recent studies suggest that hundreds of thousands—perhaps millions—of Israelis will require mental-health support in the years ahead. Even before the war, the country’s mental-health system was under strain; the surge in need is pushing it toward crisis.

Sadly, Israel has far too much experience responding to crisis. And, as always, civil society is responding with extraordinary creativity. But trauma on a national scale requires more than creativity, it requires infrastructure.

Recent articles highlight the efforts of civil society organizations stepping forward to meet this moment. Across the country, new NGOs, volunteer networks, and trauma-focused nonprofits are emerging alongside established organizations to provide critical services to soldiers, children, families, and communities.

Their work is essential. But it is not sufficient.

A national crisis of this magnitude cannot be addressed through a constellation of small initiatives, however innovative or well-intentioned. Israel needs entrepreneurship, but it also needs—and deserves—more. It needs national infrastructure capable of turning promising programs into systems that reach hundreds of thousands across every demographic, integrate clinical research with frontline care, train professionals, measure outcomes, and work directly with the government ultimately responsible for the health of every Israeli citizen.

This kind of infrastructure requires institutions with the experience and capability to scale innovation into national systems.

Israel has built world-class startups. It has also built institutions capable of delivering at a national and global level. Among them is Sheba Medical Center—ranked by Newsweek among the top hospitals in the world and long recognized as Israel’s leading center for trauma care, rehabilitation, and emergency medicine.

Sheba has led Israel’s response to its most complex medical and psychological challenges: treating the wounded, rehabilitating soldiers and civilians, and caring for hostages returning from captivity. These experiences reflect real-time work at national scale—integrating clinical care, research, training, and coordination across the health system—work that delivers measurable results.

Equally important, institutions like Sheba operate in partnership with the Israeli government, which ultimately bears responsibility for the mental and physical health of the nation. NGOs play a critical role in innovation, outreach, and community support—but they should strengthen the system, not replace it.

We should encourage creativity and compassion in civil society. But we must also ensure that the country’s response is anchored in institutions capable of building a durable national system—one that integrates innovation, clinical expertise, research, and government policy.

Israel’s mental-health crisis will not be solved by any single organization working alone. It will require leadership capable of bringing together innovation, clinical expertise, and national infrastructure to build systems of care capable of delivering excellence nationwide.

Israel’s citizens deserve nothing less.

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)