Spirituality has been shown to support well-being and resilience. Numerous studies found that those who integrate spirituality into their lives tend to exhibit higher self-esteem and self-efficacy, along with experiencing positive emotions such as hope and forgiveness. Additionally, spirituality has been shown to improve pain tolerance, reduce anxiety, and foster more positive moods, enhancing resilience against both physical and psychological distress. These findings underline the importance of supporting the spiritual needs of grieving or suffering individuals.

In the context of Central and Eastern Europe, the legacy of the Holocaust is still very much alive. The post-war silence on the impact of the Holocaust and the persistent stigmatization of Jews during the communistic era has affected coping within the intergenerational chain of Holocaust trauma. Sharing the Hungarian, Polish, Slovak and Czech experiences together shows both similarities (such as the conspiracy of silence) and differences (societal milieu, relation to Jewish population) in addition to original attempts at coping and treatment for the traumatic impact of the Holocaust.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating condition with serious implications for mental and physical health. Although previous studies have documented PTSD prevalence and short-term trajectories, detailed examination of long-term symptom patterns remains limited, especially in large cohorts. This study investigates 20-year PTSD symptom trajectories in World Trade Center responders, constituting one of the largest and longest studies of PTSD to date.

Background: The impact of witnessing a colleague’s line-of-duty death or suicide on firefighters is profound, potentially elevating the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and suicide risk. Although violent loss has been acknowledged as more traumatic than natural loss, research exploring the specific outcomes of experiencing a colleague’s death within these contexts are scarce.