While physical first-aid kits are a staple in many homes and vehicles, the “psychological golden hour” following a traumatic event often goes untreated.
To bridge this gap, a first-of-its-kind AI-driven application developed at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) is now available to provide immediate, case-specific science-backed intervention for shock and anxiety victims in the field.
Developed at the university’s AI for Resilience and Social Welfare Lab, the AI-psychological first aid (AI-PFA) app provides a digital “bridge” between the moment of trauma – such as a missile attack, an accident, or a natural disaster – and professional medical care.
By delivering immediate care to any user with a smartphone, the system aims to significantly reduce the long-term risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
“The best time to use the app is immediately after the event, but the intervention remains highly effective within the first 48 hours,” said Dr. Talia Meital Schwartz Tayri.
“By providing the right response in those first moments, we can prevent the entrenchment of shock symptoms that frequently lead to chronic PTSD.”
Schwartz Tayri, a social worker who founded and heads the AI for Social Welfare Lab, earned her doctorate at Tel Aviv University and was a visiting postdoctoral scholar at the University of California, Berkeley School of Social Welfare for two years, working in the field of social services evaluation.
She focuses on the characteristics and outcomes of using personal welfare services in Israel and combines artificial intelligence with the world of service quality and resilience.
The app is now available to the public free of charge in Hebrew, English, and Arabic, and its developers aim to expand its use among international aid organizations and civilian emergency systems around the world.
Its adaptability has quickly sparked international interest, especially in nations facing large-scale civilian trauma for the first time.
UAE, Bahrain requests new Israeli app
Schwartz Tayri told The Jerusalem Post in an interview that Israel’s ambassadors to the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain requested the app so they could inform their local authorities about it and make it possible for them to use it.
“Theirs are traditional societies where there is stigma about mental health problems, so the most important thing is to prevent psychological trauma.”
The system’s ability to adapt to cultural contexts has already led to its expansion beyond Israel’s borders, expanding resilience infrastructure to the Persian Gulf states.
The AI recognizes specific cultural nuances; for instance, when used in Arabic, it uses words like ‘Ya ammi,’ a colloquial Arabic phrase meaning ‘Oh my uncle,’ commonly used to address someone in a friendly, familiar, or sometimes even exasperated way.
The phrase represents a close, casual, or respectful address to a man, often used among friends or acquaintances or to get someone’s attention.
The app provides field-ready guidance in the “golden hour” symptoms of acute shock, such as paralysis, uncontrollable shaking, or vomiting, that often overwhelm not only bystanders but even trained first responders.
Schwartz Tayri published scientific explanations of the app last year in the European Journal of Psychotraumatology under the title “A case-specific psychological first aid AI recommendations app for rescue and first responders.”
Funded by a competitive grant from the Applied Research Fund at the Innovation, Science, and Technology Ministry, the app uses an AI system trained on clinical data and expert field protocols to deliver case-tailored, step-by-step instructions within seconds.
“If we want to translate it into more languages, we’ll have to set up a company that needs funding,” she added.
Schwartz Tayri, together with Samar Alzrai’ah – a student in her lab – recently conducted a specialized international webinar in Arabic. They were also assisted by Osama Amer, an experienced social worker from the north of Israel, who volunteered to help.
The session provided direct training on how to use the app to assist shock victims across the Arab world, both within and outside of Israel.
“In the Gulf, where there isn’t the same long-standing culture of trauma preparedness as in Israel, this technology provides an immediate, science-based infrastructure for resilience,” said Schwartz Tayri.
“Our sessions with the Arab world responders show a massive opening for our capabilities to assist small nations currently adapting to these high-scale emergency events.”
The project is a flagship initiative of Israel’s Applied Research Fund.
Prof. Miri Yemini, chief scientist at the Innovation, Science, and Technology Ministry, explained that “support for research such as AI-PFA is a central expression of the activity of the ministry’s fund, which serves as Israel’s most significant arm for competitive funding of breakthrough science in academia.
“As those entrusted with promoting scientific responses to national challenges in medicine, engineering, and society, we see this development as an important example of technological innovation’s ability to mobilize for national resilience and provide an immediate, science-based solution for real-time PTSD prevention.”
For example, if a person’s home suffered missile damage, these are the app’s suggested ways for first responders, healthcare workers, or passersby to help during the first five minutes of contact with them, said Yemini.
“First, you should frame the event for those present and in distress. Explain to them that the missile incident has ended and that they are safe now. Next, make eye contact with the person experiencing distress.
“Reassure them that you are with them now and that you won’t leave them until they are back to functioning normally. Assure them that together they’ll overcome the problem and that you need their cooperation.
“Then ask the person in distress questions to help engage their thinking while avoiding emotional responses such as:
What is your full name? When did the missile event occur? What were you doing before the event happened? Who else was with you when the event occurred? Whom would you like to inform about the situation to get help?
After they answer, provide positive feedback and affirm that the actions they took during the event were important.”
Finally, first responders are advised to give the person in distress four simple tasks to help them return to action and provide positive feedback for each task completed.
Examples include saying their name out loud; performing a physical action like standing up, walking, or pointing; saying out loud the names of those involved in the event; taking out their phone; or deciding whom they want to call to update on their location, where they are evacuating to, and that they are receiving help.
Encourage the person in distress to stay active and report who is with them in the coming days and whom they can call if they have difficulty functioning normally. Help them take care of basic needs like food and water, and ensure continuity of care.
To ensure continuity of care if needed, the first responder can make a phone call together with the victim to any of the following support lines: ERAN, NATAL, Hosen Leumi, the Health Ministry’s mental support hotline, Ezer Mizion’s mental health emergency line, Nefesh Achat for soldiers and veterans, and the Aliyah and Integration Ministry.