The "Zeh BaNefesh" association works to improve the quality of life of children and youth during their hospitalization. We strive to help them cope with the difficulties, with the emotional burden, and with the sense of shame that sometimes accompanies the coping process, and to provide them with sweet experiences and moments that will be points of light and healing through a variety of activities and experiences.

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The association provides a range of activities for family members to fill them with strength, to enable them to focus on their children's treatment, and to create supportive communities and empowering support circles for them.

"Zeh BaNefesh" promotes awareness change among the broader public through advocacy activities, and works toward recognition of the rights of those coping and their families, and their realization.

The values the association upholds are: love, equality, human dignity, inclusivity, and mutual responsibility.

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Unlike illnesses with visible symptoms and physical disabilities, mental health struggles are not outwardly expressed. They don't photograph well — or at all. The public support that children with life-threatening illnesses receive is warm and embracing. By contrast, children hospitalized in psychiatric hospitals experience a complete void in that regard. Children admitted for long or fixed periods to mental health wards do not receive celebrity visits, funding, or events from organizations and private bodies. While families are torn between visiting their hospitalized child and maintaining routine and caring for the children at home, they do not seek support from their extended family, relatives, or their local welfare department — because of the deep shame surrounding psychiatric hospitalization. Ze BeNafshi seeks to support these children and their families, and calls for openness, sharing, and confronting the struggle in order to overcome society's guarded attitude toward them. We would be grateful if you would show your support for the organization's vision and mission — whether through volunteering or a donation. Thank you for reading this far. Thank you for joining us.

Giving Hope