Israelis are facing a major challenge today. For the past three years, huge numbers of men and women have been called up for reserve duty. But when they return to civilian life, many struggle to make the transition. Soldiers are left carrying the lasting effects of war, including PTSD, while the stigma around seeking mental health support remains strong in Israel.

I am trying to change that.

My connection to this issue runs deep. My brother, Roi, was a combat medic who served more than 300 days of reserve duty. For more than two years, he was constantly moving between combat and student life at Afeka Academic College of Engineering in Tel Aviv. It was an incredibly difficult transition to make. Ultimately, my brother was unable to escape the demons of war.

I knew after his death that I could either sit around in my grief, or take action to try and prevent this from happening to more people in our country. I believe the best way forward is to normalize open conversations about mental health and encourage people to seek support when they need it.

If you break your hand, you know exactly what to do: You go to the hospital and get treatment. But if you’re experiencing night terrors, anxiety, or struggling with something you’ve been through, you may not know where to turn. Even when you do seek help, getting it isn’t always simple.

I experienced this myself when I had cancer. I needed psychological support as part of my treatment, but was told there was a one-year waiting list. If........

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