"Let's try for a moment to judge people favorably, to understand that this country has experienced a lot"

The social label project "PTSD Friendly" was established with the goal of making public spaces, restaurants, and entertainment venues in Israel accessible to those dealing with trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder. The initiative was born as a response to data indicating high percentages of trauma survivors in the population against the backdrop of the "Iron Swords" war, and is based on a connection between professional entities and the community.

"The social label was actually established by two large organizations," explains Tom Kish, one of the project's founders, in an interview with "HaOlam HaBoker". "The first is 'Metiv - The Psychotrauma Center', which has been treating post-traumatic stress for 30 years with clinical psychologists. And the second organization is called 'TechGym', led by Michal Hershkovitz."

In daily public spaces, routine elements such as crowding, loud and sudden noises, and a lack of prior knowledge about the overall load in a place can create severe emotional and sensory overload for those dealing with trauma. A simple outing to a cafe or restaurant sometimes becomes a complex event that triggers high alertness. "One of the first things is the issue of uncertainty," Kish explains the need to create a predictable and protected environment. "People who suffer from post-traumatic stress symptoms need to know where they are arriving so that the certainty helps them protect themselves and feel comfortable in the place."

To deal with these sensory challenges and assist in returning those dealing with trauma to the public space, the project offers an accessible technological solution and practical tools intended for restaurant and business staff. The training process for employees was built in an easy and fast way, with the goal of enabling the simplest possible implementation for every employee.

"The training is simple, it is easy," Kish details, "we made an interactive tutorial in AI, we send it via a link, it can be passed to every employee and they receive it." Through the link sent to them, the establishment's employees go through an interactive tutorial based on artificial intelligence, which gives them practical tools and clear instructions for sensitive and correct conduct. The training focuses on small daily actions that make a huge difference and can prevent situations of frustration or stress for customers.

Among other things, the practical tools learned in the tutorial include instructions regarding the correct approach of waiters to the table, while avoiding the noisy scattering of cutlery over the heads of diners. In addition, the emphasis in the training includes special care to avoid sudden touching of a diner's back or shoulder, a step that could trigger a reaction of alertness or stress.

Alongside the development of practical tools, the project is receiving widespread commitment from leading groups and chef restaurants in the industry, who were among the first to adopt the initiative and even helped in formulating the label itself. "There are many partners who have joined," notes Kish. "The 'Segev' restaurant chain were the first partners who joined and helped us also build it, Eyal Shani joined us, 'Machneyuda' by Assaf Granit... there are very, very many partners." Alongside the joining of chef groups, the project expresses a willingness to expand the accessibility model also to large public bodies and other institutions in the country.

To allow the project to succeed, Tom Kish also appeals to the general public and emphasizes that the best key to helping in the public space lies in showing tolerance and consideration. "If I had to give it in one word - it is patience," he says, "let's try for a moment to judge people favorably, to understand that this country has experienced a lot." Customers and diners who wish to identify entertainment venues and businesses that have adopted the model can find the social label sticker at the entrance to the businesses, and also locate them through the "Easy" app ("Easy.co.il").