A woman who survived the Hamas massacre at the Nova music festival near Kibbutz Re'im on Oct. 7, 2023, died by suicide after struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder, her family said Sunday.
Shirel Golan, who turned 22 on Sunday, was supposed to spend the day celebrating with her family. Instead, she was found lifeless at her home in Porat, near Netanya, according to The Times of Israel.
Her death sparked angry denunciations from her brother Eyal, who accused the state of failing to provide necessary support for her emotional and mental struggles after the massacre.
"If the state had taken care of her, none of this would have happened," he was quoted in Hebrew media as saying. "The State of Israel killed my sister twice. Once in October, mentally, and a second time today, on her 22nd birthday, physically."
Golan and her partner Adi were among the thousands fleeing the Nova outdoor rave when Hamas terrorists began attacking attendees.
Initially, they reached a vehicle and attempted to drive away but abandoned the car when escape seemed impossible. They hid under a bush for hours until police officer Remo Salman El-Hozayel arrived, commandeering a vehicle to rescue partygoers under fire. While hiding, they narrowly avoided getting into another car whose occupants were killed or kidnapped by Hamas.
In the months following the assault, Golan developed symptoms of PTSD, including disassociation and withdrawal. She was hospitalized twice but never officially recognized as a PTSD sufferer, her family said.
Eyal explained that the family tried to support her as best they could. "My mother was forced to take early retirement to be next to her daughter. We didn't move a millimeter from her, and the only time we left her alone was today, and she decided to take her own life," he told Channel 12 news.
He emphasized the need for the state to "wake up" to prevent more suicide attempts. "I lost my sister, but I want to raise a hue and cry so others won't lose their loved ones," he said.
The Welfare and Social Services Ministry responded that it "provides an assistance package and support to party survivors in a wide variety of forms," along with National Insurance agencies and other partners, including the Nova association.
It urged survivors needing emotional or mental support to contact the ministry via a 24-hour hotline or online. PTSD is a challenging condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing traumatic events, with symptoms like flashbacks and severe anxiety.
In February, Prof. Yair Bar-Haim of the National Center for Traumatic Stress and Resilience estimated that up to 30,000 Israelis could develop PTSD from the Oct. 7 attack and subsequent wars, stressing the already strained mental health system.
"The system was already clogged before October 7. People had to wait nine months for an appointment with a psychologist," he said.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text "988" to the Crisis Text Line at 741 741 or go to 988lifeline.org
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