Shirel Golan's brother blames govt for his sister's suicide. 'They didn't step up'

Shirel Golan, an Israeli survivor of the Oct 7 Hamas attacks on the Nova music festival, died by suicide on her 22nd birthday. She was dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder and her brother has blamed government agencies for her death.

Eyal Golan says that the officials failed to treat her condition which led her to take the extreme step on her birthday.

Shirel and her partner Adi were at the music festival organised near Kibbutz Re’im when Hamas militants attacked and went on a rampage, murdering and kidnapping people.

Eyal Golan told USA Today that his sister was supposed to spend last Sunday celebrating. Recalling the moment they came to know of the tragic death, he said that her boyfriend instead found her dead in the garden at her parents' home in the central Israeli town of Porat.

"He ran outside shouting, "Why did you do this?! Why? Why? Why?" Eyal Golan told the publication.

He has slammed the state social security and welfare agencies for failing to help her.

"They are 100% accountable for my sister's death," said Golan. The 36-year-old says he also suffered from PTSD resulting from his military service in 2021.

"When I am saying that the state, the country, killed my sister twice, my arrows are pointing at those two elements."

Shirel changed after Oct 7 attack

Remembering Shirel, Golan said that after he had a daughter, his sister focused a lot of her attention on his family, even more than him. However, things changed dramatically after Hamas attacked Israel on Oct 7, killing nearly 1,200 people in an unprecedented massacre.

Almost 400 of them died at the Nova music festival and dozens were taken hostage. He says the attack changed his energetic sister who became withdrawn.

He says the family noticed the changes and hardly ever left her alone. However, the government agencies provided little assistance, despite being fully aware of who all were affected.

"They have all the lists. They know everyone who is a survivor, who went to the festival, who is alive, who is dead, who was kidnapped, who was wounded like my sister, psychologically, and needs help,'' Golan said. "They didn't step up. They were passive. They didn't do any active measures to help."

"PTSD is a problem not just in Israel," he said. "The problem is worldwide and we need to stand up."

He hopes things will change after his sister's death.

If you or someone you know wants help for mental well-being, don't hesitate to talk to a professional. You can contact local authorities and also encourage the person to contact a suicide prevention hotline using the information in the above link. WION is not associated with any of these organisations and does not make any recommendations.