Pockets of Health

Last month, I stood on stage at the Arsenale, in the central pavilion of the Venice Architecture Biennale, and presented a model developed in collaboration with Prof. Anat Klomet-Bronstein – Dean of the School of Psychology at Reichman University, and Sharon Blum-Melamed – Director of Social Services at Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality.

The “Pockets of Health” project was born from crisis. These urban gardens, inspired by resilience farms, function as open community clinics. Now, as the war ends and public discourse shifts toward recovery and reconstruction, this model is transforming from vision to national imperative.

From Crisis to Innovation

The war has left scars on both body and mind. Research shows that loneliness increases dementia risk by 50% and stroke risk by 32%. The U.S. Surgeon General has defined this as “an underappreciated public health crisis.”

In Israel, after October 7th and two years of war, collective mental distress is palpable everywhere. While waiting lists for psychologists stretch for months and stigma around mental health treatment persists, public space offers an entirely different solution: immediate, accessible, and barrier-free.

This is not intensive psychological therapy, but rather psychological first aid – genuine human connection in a space where people can share what weighs on their hearts. No appointment, no payment, no judgment.

A Three-Layered Design

A Pocket of Health is more than just a beautiful garden. It’s a space designed with three complementary layers:

The physical layer includes inviting design with comfortable benches, calming vegetation, lighting that creates security, safety measures, and accessible location – like an urban living room that extends the boundaries of home.

The community layer brings diverse resilience-building activities (such as yoga and tai chi), discussion circles and listening benches, and an accessible community communication platform. It provides an “urban anchor,” including trained community members who offer initial mental health support, circulating throughout the garden to provide primary psychological assistance.

The management layer ensures maintenance, activity planning, and collaboration with professional entities.

Evidence-Based Approach

The model is based on the work of Dr. Dixon Chibanda from Zimbabwe, who proved that community members can be trained to provide mental health support on benches in public spaces, reducing clinical depression by 70%. We adapted this principle for general health here in Israel: addressing the needs created after October 7th, tailored to Israeli culture and our unique urban space.

Proven Results

In May 2024, a quiet but significant experiment took place at Sarona Complex in Tel Aviv: two simple wooden benches were placed under the trees, with a small sign inviting passersby to sit and talk. Students from mental health fields at Reichman University staffed each shift – not in white coats, not in a closed clinic, simply on a bench in a public garden.

The people who stopped to talk came from all ages and backgrounds: office workers on lunch breaks, parents with children, seniors on their way home. Conversations averaged about 23 minutes – enough time to share something real, not just a polite “how are you.”

When the impact was measured, the data was clear: 100 participants reported significant decreases in stress and loneliness, and increases in mental resilience and coping skills. Numerous studies support the model: 20 minutes in a designed health garden immediately improves mood, and exposure to nature reduces loneliness by 30%.

From Pilot to Infrastructure

Now, as we discuss recovery, the time has come to add a new layer to Israeli urban planning – a health layer. Not as a nice addition, but as vital infrastructure, just like education or transportation. Pockets of Health can become an integral part of every neighborhood, serving as places where we can heal not only the body, but also the mind. Public space is no longer just a place for transit, leisure, or sports. It can be the place that restores our hope, community, and resilience.

Dr. Hila Oren is CEO of the Tel Aviv Foundation and an international expert on urbanism