Antalya Metropolitan Municipality provides psychological support to earthquake victims who came to Antalya after two major earthquakes in Kahramanmaraş. In the Metropolitan Municipality Family Education Centers, earthquake-affected families are given priority, helping them to get through this process in a healthier way.
Antalya Metropolitan Municipality provides all kinds of support to the citizens who came to Antalya after the earthquake that caused pain in Turkey. While the Metropolitan Municipality Glass Pyramid Disaster Relief Center is the first address to meet the needs of earthquake victims, psychological support is provided to earthquake victims with a team of psychologists and sociologists who are experts in their fields.
Priority for Earthquake Survived Families
Priority is given to earthquake victims and their families at the Haşim İşcan Family Training Center and other family training centers under the Antalya Metropolitan Municipality Social Services Department. Family counselors and psychologists provide the earthquake victims with the necessary support to get through this process in a healthier way. Haşim İşcan Family Education Center Unit Manager, Psychologist Şakir Üzülen, pointed out that we are going through a difficult situation as a country, and noted that they hosted families of earthquake victims in family training centers with a team of experts in order to provide family counseling and psychologist support.
Medium and Long Term Responses Should Be Followed
Stating that reactions such as sudden outbursts of anger and fear in unexpected situations such as earthquakes are normal, Şakir Üzülen said, “These reactions are considered normal in the acute period. We expect this to decrease in intensity and severity in the medium and long term. In this sense, people should observe both their own emotions and the behaviors and attitudes of those around them. People may isolate themselves and experience fear and anxiety. Sleep and nutritional status may vary. He may not want to meet anyone. As the Turkish society, hugging each other, listening and helping each other has a great healing effect in this process.”
How Will Children Get Over This Process?
Mentioning the importance of how children will go through this process, Şakir Üzülen said, “One of the most common situations we encounter in applicants who apply to us is the situation of children. Is my child safe? Will there be an earthquake here? We are faced with questions such as: Because after facing a life-threatening event, it is possible to encounter such situations. If children stay away from games, encounter an introverted situation, isolate themselves, and if a state of silence persists, it is necessary to seek support from a specialist. As Antalya Metropolitan Municipality, we will give our best support to heal the wounds and get through this process together.”
Get Family Counselor Support
Family Counselor Sociologist Selda Şener, on the other hand, said that it is important for citizens from the earthquake region to receive family counseling services and said, “We started to meet with families. We prefer to meet frequently. We made a plan for it. They went through a situation that would affect their lives. Earthquake victims and their families need counseling services. "They have concerns for their future," he said.