MSc in Trauma and Disaster Mental Health

About the Program

Mental trauma is unfortunately a widespread public health problem affecting women, men, children, and families. Almost one fifth of the world's population is known to have experienced at least one natural disaster in their lifetime, almost half of all women worldwide are subjected to physical violence and at least one quarter to sexual violence. From traffic accident victims to suicide bombers to migrants, the modern world is creating new and widespread traumas in many different ways.

It is known that countries and communities that are generally poor and have various inadequacies and deprivations are more affected by disasters. Disasters lead to many mental illnesses, especially depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and anxiety disorders in the communities. While the prevalence of PTSD varies between 5-15% in general population studies, it is known that these rates increase significantly after social traumas and disasters, can vary between 30-40% in the first years after the disaster, and the prevalence rates decrease as the years go by; nevertheless, it is still known that mental illnesses related to disasters are an important public health problem even years after their occurrence.

Some professions such as healthcare professionals, firefighters and search and rescue workers may also be exposed to and affected by traumatic events. Mental illnesses such as post-traumatic stress disorder and depression will affect not only the affected person but also his/her immediate environment, family members, friends, and work environment. In the aftermath of traumas and disasters, an increase is expected not only in mental illnesses but also in the prevalence of medical diseases involving many systems such as cardiovascular system, nervous system, gastrointestinal system, and immune system. Therefore, disasters are among the leading factors that negatively affect public health.

In order to reduce the negative effects of disasters or traumatic events on health, which are quite common worldwide and in Turkey, it is necessary

• To be prepared for disasters, to prevent the factors that facilitate the effects of disasters on people.
• To deliver and sustain psychosocial services to disaster-stricken communities from the first moment.
• If diseases have developed, appropriate and effective treatment and rehabilitation is necessary.

The Trauma and Disaster Mental Health Master's Program aims to create adequate, well-equipped, and experienced human resources that can implement all these stages. As in the whole world, the number of mental health professionals who will alleviate the mental effects caused by these traumas and treat them competently in our country is quite low. In order to support the training of mental health professionals who are competent and well-equipped in this field and who will provide effective mental health services, support, and treatment to individuals affected by mental trauma, ‘Trauma and Disaster Mental Health Master's Program’ starts to provide education as part of the Institute of Graduate Programs of İstanbul Bilgi University.

Concepts of trauma and disaster - types, historical development, mental health, classification systems, differential diagnosis approaches, psychopathology, explanatory theories, individual interview principles, assessment, post-traumatic mental approaches, psychodynamic approach, cognitive and behavioral theories and treatments, community-based approaches, psychosocial interventions, assessment, understanding and treatment of trauma in children and adolescents are some of the titles reflecting the content of the courses.

The thesis program, which includes 11 courses taught by 9 experienced experts in the field, as well as seminars and courses, has an advisory board of 23 people. The program has two orientations: child-adolescent and adult. Students will be able to choose one of these two sub-branches.

The program has a pool of candidates consisting of mental health specialties and similar specialties other than physicians and nurses. In course selections, it is planned to guide the candidates in accordance with their background.

The language of instruction is Turkish and the duration of the program is at least 4 semesters and at most 6 semesters. In the third semester, full-day courses on topics such as refugees, terrorism, sexual violence, natural disasters, traumatic grief, mental health in workplaces, human rights, neuroscience are planned to be organized. In addition, students will have internship opportunities and supervision hours planned to increase their competencies in psychological interviewing, examination, and psychotherapy. The thesis is the final product of the program.

We believe that the program, which will also include activities such as meeting with experts, trauma in cinema ‘cinetrauma’, will meet an important need in the field of trauma and disaster mental health.

We hope to work with you on trauma and disaster mental health at BİLGİ...