"Syrian Refugee Children and Their Families" Research Results

The results of the "Syrian Refugee Children and Families" research, led by the Bahçeşehir University (BAU) Department of Psychology and conducted for the first time in the world, were shared with the public through the 'Global Approaches to Global Problems' conference.

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The'Global Approaches to Global Problems'conference series organized by Bahçeşehir University (BAU) addresses the problems of migrants in Europe and Türkiye. With the'Syrian Refugee Children Field Research', initiated under the leadership of the BAU Department of Psychology and conducted for the first time in the world, important findings were obtained about families and children struggling to survive in refugee camps.

The process began when a team led byAssoc. Prof. Dr. Serap Özerfrom Bahçeşehir University visited the refugee camp in İslahiye, Gaziantep, and continued with contributions to the research fromAssoc. Prof. Dr. Selçuk Şirinof New York University,Dr. Brit Oppedalof the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Students from various departments, particularly the BAU Clinical Psychology Master's Program, also took part in the research.

The results of the research conducted with Syrian refugee children will be shared at a conference to be held at Bahçeşehir University. Speakers at the conference includedProf. Dr. Nilüfer Narlı,, Prof. Dr. Türker Kılıç,, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Serap Özer,, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Selçuk Şirin, and Dr. Brit Oppedal, as well as Green Party Berlin Member of ParliamentÖzcan Mutlu.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

In the first phase of the research project, a comfortable environment was provided for children living in refugee camps, and toys and stationery were donated. A panel of expert psychologists then visited the camps and carried out a scientific situation assessment. The aim of this field project conducted by Bahçeşehir University (BAU) is to gather information on the psychological state of Syrian children who have been uprooted from their country under difficult conditions, and to inform both national and international public opinion.

Through the screening study, following one-on-one interviews with children staying in refugee camps, information was gathered on what kinds of events that could be considered "trauma" the children had witnessed, their psychological reactions to these events, stress disorders, depression and psychosomatic problems.

On Friday, 23 November 2012,at the conference to be held at the BAU Beşiktaş Campus titled'Global Approaches to Global Problems','Syrian Refugee Children and Families'will be discussed and the details of the research will be shared with participants.

Photo: Reuters