Irit Gluskinos Barkan is the founder and CEO of the “Ze Benafshi” association, which supports children and adolescents with mental health issues who are hospitalized in psychiatric wards. Irit founded the association with her daughter, Tali, out of family experience and an understanding that there are significant social gaps between society’s view of children with physical illnesses and children dealing with an “obvious” illness.

Since the foundation of the association, in 2020, it has strived to create an inclusive and respectful society that gives children and adolescents dealing with mental health challenges and their families hope, well-being, and a sense of belonging to society. The association is committed to fostering a reality in which children, adolescents, and their families enjoy a supportive and stigma-free environment that enables active and meaningful participation in all walks of life.



Irit's work focuses on three complementary axes: direct support for children and their families, along with changing public attitudes and reducing stigma through lectures, research, professional collaborations, and public activity. Under her leadership, “It’s in My Soul” has become a unique organization in the Israeli space, serving as a bridge between the health system, the family, and the community, and promoting a discourse of inclusion, hope, and accessibility.

The association works to improve the quality of life of children and teenagers during their hospitalization, to help them cope with difficulties, emotional burden, and a sense of shame, and to provide them with experiences and sweet moments that will be bright spots of strength and healing through a variety of activities and experiences during hospitalization.

Irit believes that the change and healing in the challenging coping of every child comes from the family, and therefore the association has created a platform in which it provides a package of activities for family members to fill them with strength, allow them to focus on caring for their children, and create strengthening circles of support for them.

Irit lives in Tel Aviv, is married and a mother of three, and continues to lead the association's activities with devotion and enthusiasm in all its aspects - it is in her soul!