For many years, the residents of Sderot have been living under the constant threat of rocket attacks, explosions, and other acts of violence, which has had a significant impact on the lives of people living in the region, especially their mental health.
According to reports, rates of anxiety disorders and depression are much higher in Sderot than in other parts of Israel. City residents often report feeling anxious and traumatized due to the constant threat of attacks, as well as the actual attacks they have experienced. Children and teenagers in Sderot have also experienced a great deal of stress and anxiety due to the situation.
The security situation in Sderot has also had an impact on the region’s economy, with many businesses closing down and unemployment being high. This has increased financial stress for families in the region, and the lack of economic opportunities and constant stress has also led to an increase in domestic violence and other social issues.
A Difficult Problem to Identify
Immediately after each rocket falls within the city of Sderot and the surrounding area near the Gaza Strip, there are reports of several “post-traumatic anxiety victims.” While in most cases, anxiety victims return to functioning and their routines after a while, many of them develop distress and complicated mental problems derived from post-traumatic stress.
Anxiety victims often wake up from nightmares, feel nervous, or visit their family doctor with unexplained pains. However, there are people whose anxiety attacks cause them to stop functioning completely after developing severe post-traumatic stress disorder, which is a serious mental injury.
More and more residents of Sderot and the surrounding settlements are recognized as mentally disabled and find themselves in an extremely difficult situation, according to the community mental health center in Sderot.
“These are people who have stopped functioning completely,” explain the experts. “They are constantly depressed and anxious, they have been fired from their jobs, and their families have been destroyed. Some of them left their families, and in other cases, their families left them. They are afraid to leave the house, even to receive treatment at the clinic.”
Unlike a physical injury that is relatively straightforward to prove, a psychological injury is something that is not visible at first glance. This makes it difficult for some individuals to prove their condition to the medical committees of the Social Security system. “There are people in a difficult situation who do not receive recognition,” warn the experts.
Helping Families in Need
Our ministry, City of Life, works tirelessly to provide support and resources to the most vulnerable families in the most dangerous region of Israel, on the border with Gaza, where citizens live under the constant threat of terrorist attacks.
Among the families that have received assistance from the ministry is the story of “Sarah,” a single mother with four children who, after experiencing the tragic loss of her young daughter in a heartbreaking accident, had to face the abandonment of her abusive husband and the betrayal of her own family.
With the aim of supporting Sarah and her family, City of Life has included her in various social projects to improve her situation. Additionally, specialized psychological support has been provided to help Sarah cope with the loss of her daughter and the challenges she faces as a single mother.
Furthermore, the ministry has been working to help Sarah overcome her financial situation. Through these projects, City of Life has brought a ray of hope to Sarah and her family, helping them find the strength and courage to face their daily challenges. Thanks to the support of City of Life, Sarah has found a path to recovery and restoration through the love of our Heavenly Father.
It is families like Sarah’s that are most dependent on our help and support and our ministry will continue to reflect light and bring hope to the most vulnerable in the region.
You can be part of and impact the lives of more people who need help in our city and together show them the way, the truth and the life.
We invite you to be part of our ministry so that together we can bring hope to our border town of Sderot.
Our work would not be possible without the help of partners like you, so we ask you to consider in prayer the possibility of a monthly commitment that will allow us to continue with the Lord’s work here in Israel.
Sincerely yours
Pastors
Michael & Dina Beener
and CLM Israel Team
“City of Life”
Messianic congregation and Outreach Center
Sderot, Israel.
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