Nova Survivor's Brother Fights PTSD After Her Suicide

Eyal Golan established the 'Malachei HaPastrama' (Pastrami Angels) initiative to help those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after his sister, Shira'el Golan, a survivor of the Nova music festival massacre, died by suicide on her 22nd birthday. Shira'el, who was at the festival on October 7, 2023, with her partner Adi Gilad, managed to escape the initial attack with the help of security guard Ramo Salman Alhozayel. Despite surviving the massacre, she struggled with severe PTSD. Eyal, who himself suffers from PTSD, was diagnosed after losing consciousness during an air raid alert in the 'Guardian of the Walls' operation. He observed his sister's deteriorating mental state, including multiple hospitalizations and alleged mistreatment by staff at a mental health center, which a Ministry of Health committee later found involved unnecessary use of force. The initiative, 'Malachei HaPastrama,' distributes sensory balls, small, spiky balls designed to provide tactile stimulation, to individuals experiencing anxiety or distress. Eyal was inspired to create the project after receiving a similar ball from his psychologist, which helped him cope with his own trauma. The project, run by approximately 130 volunteers, has distributed around 6,000 sensory balls nationwide and aims to provide immediate support during moments of crisis. Eyal has been advocating for better mental health treatment for Nova survivors, highlighting the significant financial cost of untreated PTSD compared to the cost of providing adequate psychological care. He argues that the state must prioritize mental health support to prevent further tragedies.