Mental Health Outcomes of Arab and Jewish Populations in Israel a Month after the Mass Trauma Events of October 7, 2023: A Cross-Sectional Survey of a Representative Sample.

On October 7, 2023, a war erupted in Israel following a mass terror attack including mass shootings, violent events, civilian abductions, and numerous fatalities, ranking as the third most deadliest terror attack. This cross-sectional, population-based study evaluated the impact on the mental health and utilization of mental health services in the Arab and Jewish populations. Conducted through a virtual platform, the study compared demographic factors, exposure to war-related events, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress symptoms among 517 participants in a representative sample of the adult population in Israel (79.1% Jewish, 20.9% Arab). Jews reported higher exposure to war-related events, but a majority expressed a lack of interest in mental help. In contrast, more Arabs desired mental help but faced barriers like stigma and scarce resources. Arabs showed a greater preference for group therapy and medical treatment. Trust in official bodies was consistently higher among Jews. Both populations exhibited similar levels (12-15.4%) of probable post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study equips clinicians, researchers and policymakers with real-time insights into improving mental health support for the culturally diverse needs of Jewish and Arab communities following exposure to mass trauma.

The Phenomenology of 'Solved' Reincarnation Stories Among Druze in Israel: Private Self, Symbolic Type and Daily Life.

This article examines the self-concept of the person who experienced Notq -the Druze phenomenon of remembering and talking about previous life. We focus on 'solved' stories- ones in which the person identifies his/her previous incarnation. The central question of this study is: What is the phenomenological experience of a person who has had Notq? In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with twenty-three Israeli Druze adults. The findings expose the Notq's experience and its manifestations throughout 'Notq's life career'. The findings also show that Notq provides psychological resources which create a symbolic type who represents the central ethos of the Druze. In the discussion we argue that Notq can be perceived as a cultural idiom providing unique psychological and cultural resources. This study contributes to the research of psychology and culture by examining the Druze belief in reincarnation, the interpretation of cultural idioms and cautions against treating them as idioms of distress.