Under the coordination of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Burcu Uysal, Director of IPAM, the PASS Project aims to raise awareness of the psychosocial challenges faced by individuals working in disaster-affected areas, to develop solution-oriented approaches to enhance resilience, and to make these issues more visible. The event, held in Istanbul, hosted participants from 13 different provinces across Türkiye, all of whom had worked professionally or voluntarily in the regions affected by the February 6 earthquakes.
During the three-day symposium, participants from a wide range of professional backgrounds — including teachers, healthcare workers, social workers, and civil society volunteers — had the opportunity to share their field experiences, the difficulties they encountered, and their proposed solutions. In addition to sharing their experiences, participants also engaged in various psychoeducational activities, seminars, and group therapy sessions.
The next phase of the project will involve a second symposium hosted by Social Sciences University of Ankara, bringing together decision-makers. This event aims to present the insights, observations, and solutions gathered from the first symposium to high-level officials working within various ministries and governmental departments.