BAGEM Publishes Post-Earthquake Psychological Support Guide

Psychological Support Guide Following Earthquake from BAGEM Two separate documents prepared by Sabancı University Individual Academic Development Center (BAGEM) outline ways to cope with the negative psychological effects brought about by the earthquake disaster. The documents titled "Psychosocial Support Guide Following Disaster" and "Psychological First Aid and Process Management" prepared by BAGEM highlight numerous useful topics related to the recovery process. Two separate documents titled "Psychosocial Support Guide Following Disaster" and "Psychological First Aid and Process Management," prepared by Sabancı University Individual Academic Development Center (BAGEM), bring together solutions against the negative effects created by the earthquake disaster on community psychology. Prof. Dr. Alpay Filiztekin, Director of the Individual and Academic Development Center operating within Sabancı University to support the collaborative work of different support services in an integrative environment, stated: "Through these documents, we aimed to create a guide to ensure correct understanding of psychological problems arising after the earthquake disaster and proper management of the process. In these difficult times, we hope that both booklets will be beneficial to all segments of society in understanding their current situation and following an appropriate path accordingly." Following the recent earthquake disaster, the "Psychosocial Support Guide Following Disaster" prepared by Clinical Psychologist Tuğçe Küpeli from the BAGEM team emphasizes that natural disasters can have traumatic effects because they contain conditions that negatively affect individuals' physical, social, emotional functioning or psychological well-being. The negative effects created by temporary shock, fear, anger, guilt, shame, helplessness and/or hopelessness experienced after a disaster are listed as follows: Confusion regarding place, location and time, insomnia and sleep problems, loss of appetite or increased appetite, indecision, inability to concentrate, forgetfulness, general apathy, immune system disruption, restlessness, insecurity, withdrawal from people, sudden anger outbursts, feeling rejected or abandoned, being excessively judgmental and accusatory, physical pain and aches, irregular heartbeat, nausea, appetite changes, sudden startle reactions. In the document listing recommendations for coping with these negative effects, it is advised to seek support from a mental health professional if it is believed that psychological trauma cannot be managed. The document titled "Psychological First Aid and Process Management" prepared by Clinical Psychologist Kaan Kabukçu working at BAGEM lists situations requiring psychological first aid and explains the important steps of psychological first aid.  

Accordingly, the steps involved in psychological first aid are listed as follows:

• Establishing contact and building connection, • Identifying basic psychological and physical needs, • Assisting in meeting needs, • Making referrals for psychiatric emergencies, • Protecting from long-term effects of the event, • Facilitating normalization, • Supporting stabilization, • Providing guidance on acute traumatic stress responses, • Supporting coping mechanisms, • Increasing resilience. In the document emphasizing that psychological first aid is not a treatment method but rather a principle aimed at "caring, listening, building connection and providing direction," it is stressed that if side effects appearing in the acute phase do not subside and make daily life difficult for the person, expert support should be sought. For BAGEM's "Psychosocial Support Guide Following Disaster" and "Psychological First Aid and Process Management" documents, click here.