The Psychosocial Support and Protection Volunteer Program, organized by the Turkish Red Crescent Psychosocial and Protection Directorate and held in Heybeliada on April 21–22, 2026, aimed to support the professional preparation of volunteers in the field of mental health who will work in disaster and emergency settings.
Within the program, Clinical Psychologist Mehmed Seyda Tepedelen and Clinical Psychologist Zeynep Züleyha Kablama Yardım, who are affiliated with IPAM (İbn Haldun University, the Center for Psychotherapy Research), took part in various sessions and shared their knowledge and professional experience through presentations.
The sessions addressed psychological and social processes in disasters, trauma and stress responses, psychosocial support interventions, and post-disaster response approaches. The aim was to enhance participants’ awareness of potential field conditions and strengthen their intervention skills.
The program also focused on the risk of secondary trauma and burnout among mental health professionals, highlighting protective approaches and coping strategies. Content aimed at strengthening professional resilience was discussed alongside field-based applications.
The examples shared by the trainers from their fieldwork carried out in Adıyaman after the February 6 earthquakes strengthened the practical dimension of the program. The insights based on their field experiences regarding psychological first aid and psychosocial support processes provided participants with an important framework.
The program concluded by contributing to participants’ development of both theoretical knowledge and field-based perspectives.
