At KeepOlim, we change and save lives every day!
One of the cornerstones of KeepOlim (RA 580613610) is to provide ALL Olim with Free and Low-Cost Mental Health Counseling in their native language.
Sadly, more than ⅓ of all suicides in Israel are Olim – many of them Lone Soldiers. Mental health care for Olim in Israel is extremely limited and lacking. Olim are sometimes forced to wait months to speak to a counselor in their native language and there is often no therapist that speaks their language or fluently enough to make therapy sessions impactful.
Our professional therapists have answered hundreds of desperate calls a year from Olim in suicidal crises, providing immediate therapy, calling their families abroad, and accompanying them to hospitals if necessary.
KeepOlim has also rescued 19 homeless Olim, getting them off the streets and into warm beds, providing food, clothes, and free therapy along the way.
Specialized Counseling for ALL Olim
In the past year alone, we have answered the calls of hundreds of desperate Olim in crisis!
In the past year alone, we have answered the calls of hundreds of desperate Olim in crisis! Depressed Olim lacking jobs, friends, and family quickly lose hope as they have nowhere to turn.
Many Olim have to wait for months to see a therapist that speaks their language, and if they are lucky enough to receive one, they have a hard time connecting with their therapists, as they don’t truly understand the problems of Olim.
Overseen by Program Director Susan Cohen, this program enlists over 70 experienced and qualified therapists, all Olim themselves, that speak over 15 languages and understand the issues of Olim. Each Israeli is entitled to 15 sessions of therapy through their Chupat Cholim.
Each Oleh requesting assistance through KeepOlim’s Counseling Program has an initial intake session and is given a number of subsequent sessions. Each session costs up to 150 shekels, paid directly to the therapist. If the client can’t afford it, the sessions are given on a sliding scale.
Therapists working for Tikva by KeepOlim receive training and supervision before being placed with clients. We want to ensure that our group is educated and skilled to effectively respond to a wide variety of needs.
In just a short time since we started this program, KeepOlim’s Mental Counseling has connected over 550 needy Olim and Lone Soldiers with one-on-one counseling.
FREE Mental Health Support Groups
In addition to our One-on-One Counseling, KeepOlim started our Support Group Program to connect Olim together in a supportive group setting led by qualified therapists. Our pilot program consisted of 13 face-to-face groups in 3 languages in 5 cities across Israel.
During the Coronavirus crisis, KeepOlim organized 30 Free Support Groups via Zoom in a number of languages to help Olim in need.
Our past accomplishments include in-person support groups held in Haifa, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Beer Sheva and Netanya. During the coronavirus crisis, we held support groups on zoom to help with issues of isolation and loneliness among Olim. At the peak, we had 200 Olim clients working with our therapists via Zoom on a weekly basis during the lockdown.
24/7 Tikva Support Hotline
We are excited to announce the opening of our 24/7 Tikva Line (Mental Health Support Hotline) providing emotional support to every Oleh and Lone Soldier 24/7 who needs immediate support by a sympathetic Tikva team member, manning the line anytime of the day or night!
074-775-1433
24/7 Tikva Line (Mental Health Support Hotline) is live now offering 24/7 support!
For Olim and Lone Soldiers, our experienced team awaits your calls.
All calls are confidential!
Request One on One Therapy Sessions
Please answer the questions to the best of your ability to request one on one therapy sessions from our experienced Olim therapists.
All information is secure and confidential.
Important!
If you are feeling in crisis or you need to talk to a sympathetic ear please call our 24/7 Tikva Support Line
Testimonials about Tikva by KeepOlim Mental Health Program
“I have no words to thank you. I can’t seem to find the right words to put here, but you should know how much we appreciate that we could reach out to you. I don’t need to tell you what a stressful situation this is, and knowing that you are there for us is like finding a diamond. Thank you from the bottom of our ❤️”
Anonymous who reached out to KeepOlim’s Emergency Crisis Intervention for her friend
“LiAmi, you’re a lifesaver thank you so much for all you do all I can say is God bless you 10 fold for your selfless acts. I am so sorry I have not said it more but if it was not for you I don’t know where our family would be right now. We love you and thank you Not only for this but for what you did to stand up for us and no longer allow them to butcher us and destroy our family. I pray one day I can truly repay”
S.B.
“One very late night I realized that I would be on the streets the very next day. Panic and loneliness struck me badly and I’ve had the worst thoughts one can have. While shaking and crying I desperately went to Messenger and reached out to someone I didn’t know at all. Within minutes I’ve 4 people with me online. One of them was this US guy (Liami) who actually calmed me down, made me laugh. They all made me feel safe. Next thing, I had Susan (Director of KeepOlim Mental Health Division) on the line, she gave me all the psychological support I needed. That night they saved my life. The next day they found me a home. And forever they will be in my heart. Today I am back on my feet, have an amazing job and live in an amazing flat. I am healthy, happy and the future is better every day. This was just 6 weeks ago. Yalla, keep donating… and above all, trust me, G’d is with KeepOlim and with you.”
Anonymous
“LiAmi Lawrence, Your tireless effort to take care of each and every Oleh is heartwarming and is admirable! In this day and age, especially with Corona upon us, you never cease to amaze me with your compassion and drive for others to succeed”
Gwen-Yehudit Pelish Morley
“Hey mate, I wanted to reach out to you and ask how are you? How is the organization? I also wanted to let you know that I got a job in high tech and myself and my family are well. This was possible thanks to you and KeepOlim for assisting us and myself especially with Mental health. You are an angel and I consider you my friend. Toda Raba achi Sheli”
Anonymous
“Thank you for taking the time to set me up with mental health counseling in November. I’ve been now working weekly with Jerry for the past few months, and it has made a world of difference in my life. For the first time in years I am making real progress on myself. The work that you and KeepOlim are doing is a mitzvah. Thanks again.”
Anonymous
“Hi my brother. You really inspire me and are a constant reminder of hope and faith. You are someone I look to and admire. Always doing right by the people around you, the people you help, continue to help, have helped, and will help in the future. I am still talking to Ruchie, and she’s been an amazing therapist and wonderful to work with.”
Anonymous Lone Soldier
“All Olim have stress. I had a lot more than most. Following a combination of financial burdens, work stress, and getting hit by a motorcycle in Tel Aviv and almost dying, I developed PTSD and an anxiety disorder. I have no family here, and I started to have regular panic attacks and could barely function. I asked LiAmi for help, and he referred me to a wonderful therapist who specializes in such things. Now, a few years later, I’m doing so much better and life is good. I have only KeepOlim and LiAmi to thank. They saved my life.”
Anonymous
“I realized I needed a therapist and contacted LiAmi, and he helped me to get a wonderful therapist, and I am doing so much better now. I am so thankful for this group!”
Dara West
“I do not know how to thank you and Susan Cohen, I have started therapy with Sarah, and it helps me a lot. Thank you so much for taking me out of the darkness I was in for a long time. I am so grateful. Shabbat Shalom”
Anonymous
“I want to personally and in the name of my family give a real and sincere thanks to the KeepOlim movement. They have done the impossible to help us during a really difficult time in our lives. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, especially to Susan Cohen and Gavi Lankin”
Anonymous
“Susan is one of the KeepOlim angels, I know that she makes a huge difference – Susan was there for me when I needed. Professional, approachable, available, and kind are some of the words that come to my mind.”
Anonymous
“Thank you for taking the time to set me up with mental health counseling in November. I’ve been working weekly with Jerry for the past few months, and it has made a world of difference in my life. For the first time in years I am making real progress on myself. The work that you and KeepOlim are doing is a mitzvah. Thanks again.”
Anonymous
“It was really great, I was looking forward to the meeting since you initiated the thought several weeks ago, it was great to have some interaction with people and I’m really looking forward to the next meeting which I think will be held next week, these are life saver programs and social interaction is so important thank you for helping me!”
Anonymous
“Hi Liami, MASSIVE THANK YOU to you and your team for organizing the KOIM support groups. I just participated in the first English group tonight with Adi and it really was so great. Thank you so much!”
Anonymous
“I just want to let you know that we had a great group last night. I’m in Susan Cohen’s group. Our group really clicked!!! Thank you sooooooo much, Liami!!!”
Anonymous
“As someone who participated in the support groups at the beginning of the crisis, I can highly recommend signing up for the new round of support groups with a trained facilitator. Taking part in one of the first groups made an amazing difference to me. In fact, after meeting and getting to know our facilitator, I went on to have a few private zoom sessions with her (at a fantastic subsidized price). Please, use the free support groups. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Thank you LiAmi Lawrence and your team.”
Adriane Rivka Wolfson Bernstein
“Hello fellow Olim!
I wanted to take a moment to share about the help I got from KeepOlim, I usually don’t share about my mental health not to friends and definitely not in public, I decided to write this post because I need to thank KeepOlim and it’s organizers as I’m sure that most people in this group don’t even know how important the KeepOlim movement is!
When Covid started I was living in a moshav, life was pretty good I loved being in the nature every day was like being on holiday whenever I felt like I needed company I went out to the city then the lockdowns came and slowly I fell into a deep depression.
I felt lost I was spending way to much time with myself and my thoughts to the point where I sadly had to make a choice of change and move back to city life.
Unfortunately when I came back to city life I was so dark inside and trained myself to overthink all the time and I found myself in a position where I was hanging out with my best friends and I just couldn’t open my mouth I was just thinking and thinking.
I knew I couldn’t carry on my life this way as it was really affecting my mental, a friend of mine referred me to LiAmi Lawrence when I spoke to LiAmi I explained to him my situation, I was not in a good financial situation either and therefore couldn’t pay for therapy, LiAmi connected me with Susan Cohen and together they helped me find an amazing therapist.
It didn’t take very long till I started healing and doing better. I cannot imagine what the road I was going down would have lead me if I didn’t get the help then when needed!
I am so happy and grateful for this amazing organization that constantly help so many people on the daily weather it’s by helping Olim put food on the table or get the mental health care they need or to get through any other difficulty they might have.
KeepOlim is always there for us and we should be here for them as I’m sure it’s operations are not cheap, by helping this movement you are helping so many individuals!”
Anonymous