Bishvil Hahayim continues to provide therapy and support services as concerns rise over suicide rates among trauma survivors from the October 7 attacks. The Israeli organization was founded in 2000 by Ofra and Haggai Hermesh after their son Assaf died by suicide in 1995. Hermesh said: "returned to life. They are all married, and we have seven grandchildren who bring light into our lives."

Some survivors of the October 7 Nova music festival attack have died by suicide. Some residents of kibbutzim and moshavim along the Gaza border have died by suicide since the October 7 attacks.

Ofra Hermesh is a founder of Bishvil Hahayim. Her husband Haggai Hermesh is a psychiatrist and co-founder of the organization. The couple established the group five years after their son's death.

For decades, Ofra Hermesh maintained a weekly ritual of visiting her son's grave. She visited Assaf Hermesh’s grave every Friday for 29 years before stopping two years ago. She has three daughters and seven grandchildren.

Bishvil Hahayim provides group therapy to families, individuals, and siblings affected by suicide. The organization addresses the specific needs of those who have lost relatives to self-inflicted deaths.

Studies indicate that family members of suicide victims have an eight-fold increased risk of committing suicide themselves. This statistical reality informs the operational focus of the organization on bereaved families.

Dr. Maya Iohan-Barak is a clinical psychologist and board member of Bishvil Hahayim. She serves as deputy head of the psychology service at Schneider Children’s Medical Center in Petah Tikva.

"Prevention begins when we teach young children of all ages, from kindergarten through high school, a strategy to get help, to express how they feel, and to learn about emotional strength. This helps them identify who is under stress so they can be helped," Iohan-Barak said.

Michal Arcosin is the director-general of Bishvil Hahayim. She oversees the daily operations of the support network.

Why It Matters

The work of Bishvil Hahayim intersects with a broader public health challenge in Israel, where hundreds of lives are lost to suicide annually. The organization's founding by bereaved parents shows the intergenerational impact of these deaths, as studies show family members face an elevated risk.

Recent events have added urgency to the mission, with suicides reported among survivors of the October 7 attacks and residents of border communities. The selection of the organization by the Israeli Social Welfare Ministry marks its role in the national infrastructure for mental health support and bereavement care.

Timeline

On September 19, 1995, Hermesh died by suicide in a field near Herzliya. He was 19 years old at the time of his death. Later that day, Hermesh was buried in the Bnei Zion cemetery near Ra’anana. On January 1, 2018, the Israeli Social Welfare Ministry selected Bishvil Hahayim as one of two non-governmental organizations to help prevent suicides and support bereaved families.