Israeli Journalism Students Launch Campaign to Support PTSD Veterans and Ban Fireworks Use
In response to the rising number of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) cases since October 7, journalism and digital advertising students at Ort Gutman in Netanya launched a social campaign to raise awareness about the impact of fireworks and explosives on veterans suffering from PTSD. The students produced a video simulating a soldier's experience of flashbacks triggered by loud explosions, alongside a digital campaign urging the public to avoid using fireworks out of sensitivity to trauma survivors.
The initiative began after the students met a young man coping with PTSD at a gym, which inspired them to research the issue further. They also interviewed another veteran who described how the sounds of fireworks can abruptly bring back traumatic combat memories and severe anxiety. These personal testimonies shaped the campaign, which includes educational content designed to highlight the psychological toll of fireworks, especially during a time when thousands of soldiers and civilians are dealing with the aftermath of conflict.
Education Minister Yoav Kisch praised the project, emphasizing that a strong society supports its soldiers when they return home. He commended the students for using their journalistic skills to promote awareness, mutual responsibility, and gratitude as actionable values. The campaign is part of the students' final project in a specialization taught in about 30 schools nationwide, involving 2,500 students who are tasked with leading real social campaigns, collaborating with organizations, and conducting investigative work to drive social change.
This campaign joins other educational initiatives that combine social activism with communication studies, addressing one of Israel's most sensitive post-war challenges: the daily struggles of PTSD sufferers with triggers and the public's responsibility to minimize harm. The students' work underscores the importance of societal support for trauma survivors and calls for a collective effort to reduce the use of fireworks that can cause psychological distress.
