Understanding the tribe: Safeheart org. helps Nova survivors recover using psychedelic treatment

SafeHeart, a nonprofit founded hours after the Oct. 7 attack on the Supernova music festival, provides specialized trauma care to survivors, many of whom were under the influence of psychedelics during the attack. The organization's 400 therapists have treated over 2,500 patients, offering free trauma treatment, counseling, and support groups rooted in the festival community.

SafeHeart, a nonprofit founded within hours of the Oct. 7, 2023 attack on the Supernova music festival near Kibbutz Re'im, provides specialized trauma care to survivors, many of whom were under the influence of psychedelics during the attack. The organization was formed by eight mental health professionals — Guy Simon, Yair Grynbaum, Igal Tartakovsky, Tal Zagursky, Nir Tadmor, Karina Dessau, Prof. Roy Salomon, and Reut Plonsker — who mobilized immediately after the attack. By October 18, they had officially established SafeHeart to offer free trauma treatment, counseling, support groups, crisis intervention, and long-term mental health care to survivors and their families. The organization's 400 therapists have treated over 2,500 patients since Oct. 7. Founders note that approximately 70% of survivors reported taking psychedelics or other drugs during the event, complicating their trauma. The attack began at sunrise, when celebrants were at the peak of the trance celebration, creating a sharp contrast between joy and terror. SafeHeart's approach combines expertise in trauma care and psychedelic harm reduction, with close ties to the festival community. The article is a feature interview with the founders, detailing the organization's origins, the unique needs of Nova survivors, and the ongoing challenges nearly three years later.