MOSHE Words that Make a Difference

MOSHE – Words that Make a Difference Suicide Prevention for People at Risk MOSHE – Words that Make a Difference is a non-profit organization which aims to dramatically reduce suicide rates and save lives through innovative, effective community-based interventions. Suicide is a global phenomenon. Global figures near 1 million victims each year, with suicide attempts 20 times that number. In Israel, the lack of public awareness and support for people at risk of suicide leaves a bottomless chasm, with an estimated 600 people dying by suicide each year and 11,000 people in suicide-related distress, with 1,200 cases considered to be at an acute risk. MOSHE believes that suicide can be prevented, including in acute risk cases, by combining appropriate tools: community-based programs, ad-hoc interventions, therapy, direct discourse, raising awareness and more. Established in 2017 (registered as a non-profit in 2019) by Gal Nissim-Emanuel, sister of Moshe (Moshik) Nissim, who died tragically by suicide in 2015, MOSHE is the first and only organization in Israel to create a concrete and effective buffer between a person at genuine suicide risk and his/her death. MOSHE operates on three levels: Emergency support for suicide prevention based on an innovative community model. Raising awareness and education – about suicide and suicide risk among the public through training, conferences, annual events, campaigns and more. Prevention – creating a preventive infrastructure for at-risk groups and the general public. MOSHE's uniqueness: Developing and implementing effective prevention methodologies - for potential suicides of people in extreme distress. Building community - volunteers from diverse sectors in society. Providing knowledge - on first aid practices for suicide prevention to service providers and professionals in the community (i.e teachers, counselors, social workers). MOSHE works closely with experts in the field of suicide prevention, including Prof. Golan Shahar of Yale University and Ben-Gurion University, Prof. Thomas Joiner, the Robert O. Lawton Professor of Psychology at Florida State University, Prof. Haim Omer of Tel Aviv University, and others. MOSHE collaborates with organizations from all sectors including United Hatzala, Magen David Adom, Eran, Ela, Sahar, academic institutions. MOSHE's Philanthropic partners include The Laszlo N. Tauber Family Foundation, Schusterman Family Philanthropies, the Rayne Trust, the Arkin Family Foundation, Check Point Bank Leumi, Giving Group Community and more. MOSHE's Emergency Community Intervention (ECI) Roofing Model The first and only organization in Israel to provide a concrete solution for suicide prevention, MOSHE is changing the way people think about mental health. MOSHE's innovative "Roofing" methodology mobilizes community resources to create effective safety nets and prevents suicide for people at extreme risk. Our life-saving model provides mediation, guidance and ongoing support for individuals and their families in cases of suicide risk or following an attempt, in consultation with professional experts. Led by staff and trained and dedicated volunteer "Moshas" (Moshot), interventions cultivate personal and mutual responsibility and mitigate the risk. It is our vision to provide every person in need throughout the country with access to such mental health "first aid." One-quarter of suicides and suicide attempts in Israel are teens and young people. MOSHE's solution meets this growing need in the best possible manner. Since its establishment and with a very small staff, MOSHE has held 467 interventions with a 99% success rate. MOSHE is now on pace to hold about 400 emergency interventions in the next 12 months. In order to do so we must more than double our current budget from $535,000 to $1,130,000 by mid-2024. This will allow us to train staff and volunteer Moshas in our life-saving methodology: the recruitment, training and practical specialization process before a Mosha can hold an emergency intervention is about 10 months long. Each and every contribution strengthens our activities and directly SAVES LIVES. Come Make a Difference With Us