Israel Launches Campaign to Prevent Combat Veteran Suicides Ahead of September 10
Ahead of Suicide Prevention Day, Israeli organizations launch a campaign urging citizens to actively reach out to combat veterans rather than sending casual text messages.
Ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10, the "Combat Diamonds" forum and the "Diamonds for Life" association are launching a moving, life-saving initiative aimed at turning awareness into active fieldwork. Under the slogan "In battle, no wounded soldier is left behind—so why at home?", the organizations are calling on the general public not to wait for people to disappear, but to act immediately.
The core message of the campaign is simple yet sharp: do not settle for sending a heart emoji or a brief "What's up, brother?" WhatsApp message. The organizers urge every citizen to think of one combat veteran they know—the one they haven't spoken to in a while, the one who seemed a bit disconnected, or the one who said they were "fine" but gave off a feeling that something else was going on—and simply give them a phone call. Ask, listen, and be there for them.
As part of the initiative, a support mechanism has been established: if you called a combat soldier and received no response or there is a concern for their well-being, details can be submitted via a dedicated form in the story and highlights of the association's pages. In cases of immediate danger, the campaign emphasizes the importance of promptly contacting emergency and support services (the ERAN hotline at 2201*, NATAL at 3362*, or the SAAR association).
"We are not asking you to be therapists," explain the "Combat Diamonds" forum, "we are asking you to be a community that doesn't wait for someone to disappear to ask where they are. Every conversation connects another person to a community that sees them—because no diamond disappears."
