OVERCOMING THE CHALLENGES: EMOTIONAL HEALTH SUPPORT AND PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE FOR NEW IMMIGRANTS (OLIM)

Making Aliyah - immigrating to Israel - feels like a homecoming for many. The sense of community and rhythm of life can foster feelings of warmth and belonging. Yet, beneath the excitement, the transition carries real and complex challenges.

Starting over in a new country often without the support of extended family nearby, whether as a lone immigrant or part of a family, demands far more than a plane ticket and a dream of a better future. Among the many challenges are difficulties with integration, cultural adaptation and homesickness.

"Aliyah is inevitably a trigger for change," says Mrs. Adi Wales, director of the Social Services Department at Israel's Ministry of Aliyah & Integration. "Even highly capable individuals can find themselves struggling with a language they don't yet understand, complex bureaucracy and deep cultural differences. In today's reality, with the added strain of war, air-raid sirens and traumatic news, the experience is even more intense."

To give today's new immigrants holistic support, the Ministry operates specialized social services that go well beyond the standard support of language learning, housing and employment. "Our view is that Aliyah doesn't stop with the paperwork and the absorption package," says Wales. "We consider the individual and the family as a whole, and we provide support for emotional, medical and financial challenges, as well."

As part of this vision, a cornerstone initiative is a free, anonymous, emotional support line for new immigrants. Operated by ERAN and fully funded by the Ministry, the hotline is available in Russian, English, French, Spanish and Amharic. It is staffed by licensed social workers and clinical psychologists, who provide both immediate assistance and ongoing emotional support.

Emotional Wellbeing as Part of Integration
Minister for Aliyah & Integration, MK Ofir Sofer, highlights the importance of this hotline. "Its launch is a vital step in our mission to improve services for new Olim," he declares. "It allows us to offer more accurate, accessible and effective assistance, helping Olim fully understand their benefits and exercise their rights. We've invested significant resources not only in this hotline but also across our Social Services programs."

The Ministry understands that immigrating to Israel is an emotional and meaningful experience, whose challenges extend beyond logistics and bureaucracy. "Our mission isn't only to bring people to Israel," explains Adv. Avichai Kahana, director-general of the Aliyah & Integration Ministry. "It's also to ensure they feel at home from the first day. Part of our responsibility is to provide a broad support network that helps Olim not only navigate the initial challenges, but also thrive and build a secure future here."

Accordingly, the Ministry runs several initiatives designed to ease the immigration process - personal pre-Aliyah guidance, customized support in employment, rights awareness and financial planning are some. These essential services do not, however, address the full spectrum of challenges. Beyond bureaucracy and financial adjustment, many immigrants also grapple with emotional difficulties, such as loneliness, anxiety or psychological struggles, which can intensify during times of crisis.

Enter the partnership with ERAN, early in 2022, the Ministry launched a public tender for a professional and culturally sensitive mental health solution for new Olim and returning residents, and selected ERAN to operate a psychological support hotline. It has defined hours, a dedicated budget and, from the beginning, a flexible built-in emergency expansion mechanism which, during times of national need, extends the service to up to 12 hours a day.

What Makes the ERAN Partnership Unique?
"ERAN is well-known for its crisis hotline services," explains Mrs. Wales. "The dedicated line that we initiated for the Olim allows newcomers to speak in their native language. This is absolutely critical. For someone coping with trauma, anxiety or depression, they must know the therapist not only understands their words but also understands the culture behind them. That's the foundation of trust and effective care."

Because of this, the hotline is staffed by certified professionals - clinical psychologists and social workers - who provide both immediate emotional support and ongoing emotional guidance. The service is anonymous, accessible and entirely free of charge. The Ministry also runs a campaign to encourage Olim to reach out when in need.

Crucially, the project benefits from strong institutional backing. "Director-General Avichai Kahana is deeply committed to the welfare of new immigrants," notes Wales. "He fully understands the vital role of mental health support in successful integration, which is why significant resources are invested in this service."

The Impact of October 7
Since the outbreak of the war against Hamas, calls to the hotline have surged, increasing by dozens of percentage points. "We responded by expanding operations to 12 hours a day to meet the demand," says Wales. "For many new immigrants, especially those who arrived shortly before the crisis, the war is a double trauma: they face the same threats as everyone else, but without fluency in the language, without a family support system, and often without even understanding the emergency instructions. We also acted quickly to translate these instructions into multiple languages.

"But none of this alone provides a full sense of security. Which is where the ERAN hotline is invaluable. It gives immigrants a safe space to ask questions, share feelings, validate emotions and, most importantly, know they're not alone."

Embraced by the Community
"There's been an incredible outpouring of support from the Israeli public," continues Wales. "People helpin every possible way, from volunteer initiatives to Holiday hosting. There's a real spirit of 'no one left behind.' Even people who are themselves struggling reach out to help others. Israelis are no strangers to grief, loss and hardship, and from that shared experience comes deep empathy and compassion. But," she stresses, emotional support must also come from structured, professional systems so that immigrants don't simply survive, but can truly start over.

Looking Ahead
The Ministry is already working on expanding immigrant support services in the coming years. Among planned initiatives are Pre-Aliyah Planning Programs for families with unique needs (disabilities, mental health concerns), that will identify and address potential obstacles early on, reduce bureaucracy and prevent crises before they happen.
"Our goal is for every immigrant to know that the system sees them in all dimensions - economic, social and emotional," says Wales. "We want newcomers to know that we're here standing by their side."

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Emotional Support Services — free and anonymous
The emotional support hotline is anonymous, free of charge and available in English, French, Russian, Spanish and Amharic. It operates Sunday to Thursday, 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Dial *3201 from any phone in Israel.

Public service announcement. Sponsored by the Ministry of Aliyah & Integration in partnership with ERAN.