Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services Stakeholders Workshop took place on 21-22 March 2023 with a total of 80 participants representing various institutions and organizations and reviewed the work carried out so far in the earthquake-affected region, assessing the current situation, and developing a road map for the coming months.
The workshop was organized within the scope of the Social Inclusion of Persons with Mental Disabilities Project, jointly funded by the Delegation of the European Union to Türkiye and the World Health Organization and implemented by the World Health Organization in cooperation with the Ministry of Family and Social Services and the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Türkiye.
The stakeholders discussed problems and resources in the earthquake zone and identified priorities for the following three months for different groups: “Children-adolescents”, “Vulnerable groups”, “Specialized Mental Health Services”, “Individuals in Institutional Care”, and “Individuals under Temporary Protection”. The outcomes of the workshop were compiled into a comprehensive report that may serve as a roadmap for mental health and psychosocial support services in the earthquake-affected region
Background
Two earthquakes of magnitude 7.7, and 7.6 with the epicenters Pazarcık and Elbistan, Kahramanmaraş, respectively, happened on February 6, 2023. These earthquakes caused major devastation in 11 provinces. After the earthquakes, which affected an area where 13.5 million people live, the transfer of the affected population to other regions, made it necessary to carry out psychosocial support services not only in the earthquake zone but also throughout the country. Mental health and psychosocial support activities for the Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes are being carried out by the World Health Organization Country Office in Türkiye in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Family and Social Services. Support activities are planned and implemented in accordance with the needs analysis carried out by different institutions, the needs of field workers, due diligence at the central level and the feedback from professional organizations.
Considering the great need for mental health and psychosocial support services, the importance of the cooperation of stakeholders working in this field becomes evident. A 2-day stakeholder meeting was organized by the World Health Organization Country Office in Türkiye in Ankara to review the work carried out so far with stakeholders who have been working since the earthquake occurred as well as to determine a road map for the coming months.
Based on the observations and field experiences of stakeholders, problems and resources in the earthquake zone were discussed under five working groups: “Children-adolescents”, “Vulnerable groups”, “Specialized Mental Health Services”, “Individuals in Institutional Care”, “Individuals under Temporary Protection”. The needs and solution proposals identified by the working groups consisting of experts in their fields are summarized below.
