New ‘PTSD-friendly’ scheme aims to adapt Israel’s public spaces

Popular apps such as Ontopo for restaurant reservations and Easy business directory will add PTSD filters, with participating venues self-certifying

The Israel Psychotrauma Center launched a new campaign on Sunday to encourage restaurants, cafes, bars and other social venues to create spaces that are more aware, sensitive and accessible for people living with trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The PTSD-friendly initiative aims to raise awareness about the daily challenges of the mental health condition and educate the hospitality sector on how best to serve sufferers, who frequently choose to stay at home rather than venture into what can feel like a frightening, unpredictable world.

Participating establishments are invited to visit the site and watch an instructional film (in Hebrew) that explains the hidden difficulties of post-trauma and offers practical guidance on welcoming these customers. Businesses are encouraged to display the scheme’s logo prominently, advertise their participation on social media, and ensure that their entire staff is aware of and on board with the scheme.

Major Israeli platforms, such as Ontopo for restaurant reservations and the business directory Easy, have already committed to incorporating a “PTSD-friendly” filter into their search applications.

“The idea is similar to being vegan-friendly,” said Shir Elias, the center’s research director. “It’s about creating a space where you can feel comfortable and express your needs without feeling embarrassed.”

The project emerged from discussions and a hackathon held by the center (known in Hebrew as Metiv) in collaboration with TechHeal, a group of high-tech professionals developing innovative responses to PTSD.

Elias noted that traditional treatments have a roughly 40 percent success rate, regardless of the method. “We said, ‘Let’s think creatively about how we can help all the families and sufferers.’ Our first conclusion was that basic public spaces needed adapting before any new technology could help.”

“When you have PTSD, the alarms are inside all the time,” Elias explained. “If you fought in Lebanon, for example, you automatically seek an escape route. In a restaurant, sitting in the center of a crowded room, with a waitress who touches you, can trigger panic. People with PTSD are also highly sensitive to noise; loud, rhythmic music can feel like bullets.”

Service dogs present another common hurdle. Trained to perform highly specialized tasks to mitigate anxiety attacks, these animals are frequently turned away by uninformed businesses. “How much better it would be if the restaurant knew to offer a quiet table in the corner, together with the dog,” Elias said.

Participating venues will self-certify. “This is a social badge, not an official standard, and we won’t be conducting supervision,” Elias noted. “As a trauma center equipped with a dedicated training division, we possess the tools to implement training programs and oversight. However, we choose to anchor this responsibility within Israeli society itself, as we have found the public to be deeply receptive to this issue.”

According to the campaign film, fear of triggers causes sufferers to isolate themselves, breaking crucial support circles and deepening their loneliness. Meanwhile, the public often stays away simply out of fear of causing embarrassment.

“But you don’t need to be a carer, or to know what the person has been through,” the film emphasizes, advising staff to be patient, clear, and gentle. “Establish eye contact, talk quietly and ask, ‘What can I do to help you?’ Don’t raise your voice, don’t embarrass them and never ask what they experienced.”

Practical steps to reduce uncertainty include providing advance online notice of events such as loud parties, notifying guests when a table is ready so they can avoid waiting in queues, and expediting the food and the bill.

While Elias acknowledges that it is difficult for waiting staff to independently identify sufferers, the campaign focuses on training shift supervisors and managers. Ultimately, the center hopes to expand the certification beyond leisure venues to banks, museums, healthcare providers, workplaces and corporate human resource departments.

“Everyone who’s heard about this scheme wants to be involved,” Elias said. “Everyone knows someone who experienced something and hasn’t been the same since.”