"I Felt a Sense of Mission during Moments of Crisis": Mental Health Professionals' Perspectives on Their Initial Treatment of Evacuees during the Israel-Hamas Conflict.

This study examines mental health service providers who provided care to evacuees during the Israel-Hamas conflict. Utilizing a phenomenological qualitative method, the research delves into the psychological impact on the participants' lived experiences. The sample included 25 mental health providers (13 female, age range 28-63, mean 42.4, SD 7.3; 15 psychologists and 10 social worker, average seniority 10.8 years, SD 5.2, range 2-18 years). Data were collected through semi-structured interviews conducted between December 2023 and March 2024. The data analysis revealed a dual narrative: Participants paid a major personal price and experienced secondary traumatization manifesting in emotional detachment, physical symptoms, and heightened arousal. They also derived a profound sense of meaning and fulfillment from their work, contributing to personal and professional growth. These findings underscore the complexity of their experiences, which were marked by the challenges of secondary trauma and the resilience fostered through their work. This study emphasizes the importance of support systems, including social and familial networks and professional supervision, in navigating these challenges. This study has several limitations, including small sample size and the use of virtual interviews, suggesting the need for further research with a broader participant base and in different contexts.

Growing up with a sibling with depression: A qualitative study in Israel.

Depression has major consequences for the entire family, among them emotional distress, disrupted daily routine and social damage caused by negative stigmas. The aim of this study was to explore the retrospective experiences of young adults who lived with a sibling with depression while they were adolescents. The present study adopted a qualitative-phenomenological approach. The research participants were recruited via purposive sampling on social networks across Israel from May to September 2022. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 participants aged 18-29 who lived with a sibling with depression during their adolescence. Data collection continued until saturation of concepts was reached. The results underwent thematic analysis. Three themes emerged from the qualitative analyses: 1) "I felt like I was living in a minefield": Adolescence while living with a sibling with depression; 2) "One step forward and two steps back": Siblings' coping strategies; 3) "My parents were not there for me when I needed them": Participants' experiences with their parents during their adolescence. The research findings indicate that adolescents who grew up with a sibling affected by depression had to cope with an acute family crisis, whose serious ramifications required emotional and social support. Mental health professionals and counselors working within educational institutions and the broader community should provide support and intervention for adolescents who have siblings struggling with depression. This intervention may take the form of individual or group therapy that aims to foster a sense of belonging and help affected individuals. Creating a supportive environment that meets the needs of the affected siblings is also crucial in addressing this issue effectively.

"I wanted to hide but also to be found": the high school experiences of young adults who grew up in the same home as a sibling with depression.

BACKGROUND: Depression is a mental health condition that can have far-reaching consequences for the entire family, not just for the affected individual. Siblings are particularly vulnerable in that the unremitting stress and guilt at home can affect multiple aspects of their lives, including relationships, added responsibilities, and health. This pressure may affect siblings' own emotional well-being and academic success. Most studies in this field have examined the impact of depression on the affected adolescents or their parents, whereas few have examined the impact on siblings. Sibling studies have been limited by lack of sample homogeneity, especially in the context of coping in high school. This study sought to examine the retrospective experiences of young adults who lived in the same house as a sibling with depression while they were in high school. METHODS: This qualitative study examined 21 young adults (aged 18-29) who grew up with a sibling with depression. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted from May to September 2022. The interviews were recorded and transcribed and underwent thematic analysis. RESULTS: Three main themes emerged from the interviews: (1) "School as a place of refuge": The perspective of participants who grew up with a sibling with depression regarding their high school experience. (2) "I wanted the adults at school to see me": Relations between research participants and the school educational staff. (3) "I was afraid people would relate to me as the sibling of a crazy person": Participants' relationships with their peers. CONCLUSIONS: This study sheds light on the experiences of adolescents who grew up with a sibling with depression. The findings point to feelings of being invisible, self-nullification, avoiding sharing with others, and transparency. The participants were afraid that if their peers found out about their sibling they would also be stigmatized and alienated. The study shows that adolescents living with a sibling with depression need support at school.