Enhancing mental health and psychosocial support in Turkey

Project description

Title: Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) for Syrian Refugees and Residents of Host Communities in Turkey
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)​​​​​​​
Country: Turkey
Lead executing agency: Turkish Vice Presidency Office (VPO)
Overall term: 2021 to 2024

Children drawing together.

Context

The violent conflict in Syria, which has been ongoing for over ten years and is associated with the world’s biggest refugee crisis, is affecting the entire region. More than 3.6 million of the 6.6 million Syrian refugees live in Turkey. The violence and loss experienced by Syrians before and while fleeing causes psychological stress. On top of this, they face challenges in the host countries, such as difficult living conditions, difficulties in integrating, loneliness, isolation, and tensions between refugees and host communities. The restrictions introduced to contain the COVID-19 pandemic have further heightened the social and psychological stress experienced by the whole population. The effects of this stress range from grief, desperation and loneliness, to anger, and even to anxiety disorders, depression, substance abuse and other serious mental health disorders. People’s ability to survive, integrate and develop depends to a significant degree on whether they manage to cope constructively with this psychological stress.

Objective

Syrian refugees and residents of host communities in Turkey have more access to high quality mental health and psychosocial support services.

Women and a man sitting in a circle and talking.

Approach

The project promotes access to services in the field of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) for Syrian refugees and residents of host communities. To this end, needs-based and context-sensitive strategies are being developed, with the involvement of those affected.

At the same time, the project is implementing MHPSS services in health and community centres for refugees and residents of host communities, and expanding these services, particularly for children, women and families.

It is also developing the skills of counsellors, therapists and translators.

Last updated: June 2022

Additional information