Nova Festival Survivor Shirel Golan Takes Her Own Life, Family Blames Israeli Health Authorities

Shirel Golan, a 22-year-old survivor of the October 7, 2023, Hamas massacre at the Nova music festival, took her own life on her birthday, sparking widespread grief and criticism of the Israeli health authorities. Golan was found in the garden of her home in central Israel, marking a tragic end to a year-long battle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following the terror attack.

The Nova Music Festival massacre was one of the most lethal attacks on October 7, 2023, resulting in the deaths of nearly 347 people and the abduction of around 40 others. Shirel Golan had narrowly escaped the massacre by switching from a car that was later found to be a “death vehicle” to a police car that took her to safety.

According to her brother, Eyal Golan, Shirel’s mental health issues began immediately after the attack. Despite being a vibrant and supportive individual before, she became increasingly withdrawn and isolated. Eyal recounted that she stopped leaving the house and avoided family gatherings, highlighting the severe impact of the trauma on her life.

The Golan family has expressed deep frustration and anger towards the Israeli health authorities, alleging that they failed to provide adequate mental health support to Shirel. Eyal Golan stated that the government was aware of the survivors but did not reach out to offer assistance. Instead, help was only available to those who actively sought it, leaving many like Shirel without the necessary support.

Eyal, who has been managing his own PTSD from serving in the Israel Defense Forces, had encouraged Shirel to seek therapy and medication. However, she was resistant to these suggestions. It was only after reconnecting her with a police officer who had rescued her at the festival that she began to open up about her experiences.

The Israeli Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs has issued a statement expressing deep pain over Shirel’s death and highlighting the support services available for Nova survivors. However, the family and other survivors have criticized these programs for being bureaucratic and ineffective.

Eyal Golan has vowed to raise awareness about the need for better mental health support for survivors of such traumas, hoping that sharing Shirel’s story will help others realize they are not alone in their struggles).