Understanding the tribe: Safeheart org. helps Nova survivors recover using psychedelic treatment
Founded in the hours after Oct. 7, SafeHeart draws on expertise in trauma and psychedelic harm reduction to help Nova survivors rebuild their lives – through care rooted in the community itself.
The Supernova music festival near Kibbutz Re'im came to a shocking end on October 7, as Hamas rocket barrages attacked the celebration, leaving hundreds dead and many survivors haunted by trauma. Many of those affected had been under the influence of mind-altering substances, making their post-traumatic stress more severe. In response to this crisis, eight mental health professionals – including Guy Simon, Yair Grynbaum, Igal Tartakovsky, Tal Zagursky, Nir Tadmor, Karina Dessau, Professor Roy Salomon, and Reut Plonsker – came together to form a nonprofit organization called SafeHeart.
Within days, the group had officially established the organization to provide specialized trauma care to those affected by the attacks.
SafeHeart has since become a beacon of hope for Nova survivors, offering free trauma treatment, counseling, support groups, crisis intervention, and long-term mental health care. Their team of 400 therapists has treated over 2,500 patients since the attacks, catering to the unique needs of those who had been under the influence of psychedelics during the event.
The organization's founders have extensive experience in therapy, trauma care, and psychedelic harm reduction, having previously worked together to strengthen harm reduction efforts in Israel. They were already collaborating with various organizations like Safe-Zone, Hof Mivtachim, Impulse, and the University of Haifa before the attack.
One of the most striking aspects of the Nova survivors' trauma was their exposure to psychedelics during the event. Approximately 70% of the survivors interviewed had taken drugs during the festival, adding another layer of complexity to their psychological experience. Furthermore, many of those present came from outside the Gaza border area, making them unfamiliar with the reality of rocket fire from across the border.
Professor Roy Salomon, head of the Laboratory for the Study of Consciousness and the Self at the University of Haifa, notes that the attack occurred at sunrise, a time when attendees were at the peak of their trance celebration, making the sudden shift to terror even more traumatic for many.
As the enormity of the attack became clear, SafeHeart's founders quickly established a WhatsApp group for therapists to coordinate support. They offered three free sessions to survivors voluntarily, acting on the urgent need for help without waiting for a formal framework. The group's approach evolved as they learned more about the survivors' experiences and needs.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
