With the collaboration protocol signed between the Istanbul Governorship, Üsküdar Üniversitesi and NPİSTANBUL Beyin Hastanesi, the Families at the University Project will reach a large number of families and individuals across Istanbul. Speaking at the protocol signing ceremony, Istanbul Governor Ali Yerlikaya stated that with the project, they aim to raise awareness among individuals, help families achieve and maintain peace and happiness, and strengthen society. Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, Founding Rector of Üsküdar Üniversitesi, noted that cooperation is the magic word in the family and that their primary mission is for families to be happy homes that raise good people. The Families at the University Project includes a series of studies aimed at protecting the family, which is the cornerstone of society, identifying problems within the family institution, and solving these problems.
A Collaboration Protocol for the Families at the University Project was signed between the Istanbul Governorship, Üsküdar Üniversitesi, and NPİSTANBUL Beyin Hastanesi. At the ceremony held at the Istanbul Governorship, Istanbul Governor Ali Yerlikaya, Founding Rector of Üsküdar Üniversitesi and Chairman of the Board of NPİSTANBUL Beyin Hastanesi Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, and NPİSTANBUL Beyin Hastanesi Board Member Fırat Tarhan signed the collaboration protocol.
Istanbul Governor Ali Yerlikaya: “We aim to strengthen society”
Istanbul Governor Ali Yerlikaya stated that as the governorship, they stand by Üsküdar Üniversitesi and NPİSTANBUL Beyin Hastanesi in the signed Families at the University Project, saying, “Our goal is to raise awareness among individuals, help families achieve and maintain peace and happiness, and likewise, to strengthen society at the end of the project. The family is the most important cornerstone of society. Therefore, we must make every effort to ensure that our homes remain in an environment of peace, happiness, and well-being.”
Yerlikaya: “There is a need for scientific guidance”
Stating that there is a problem with not being able to socialize as much as possible during the pandemic, Ali Yerlikaya said, “We try to stay away from crowds as much as possible, from work to home. What is being tried to be done here is related to raising individual awareness. There is a need for scientific guidance on how to establish communication in solving existing problems related to peace in the family. Our Üsküdar Üniversitesi, where Prof. Nevzat Tarhan's career and experience are indisputable at this point. Likewise, the success of NPİSTANBUL Beyin Hastanesi is evident. With their cooperation, when families apply online, their problems and findings are examined within a certain framework, and educational activities continue under a specific procedure for those who accept. The first pilot demo of the project was made. The pros and cons were seen, and it must be stated with great satisfaction that there were many pros. Now, as the Istanbul Governorship, we want to extend this project to larger segments. This is our main goal. I hope this effort yields good results and I thank Üsküdar Üniversitesi in the person of Prof. Nevzat Tarhan, and NPİSTANBUL Beyin Hastanesi in the person of Mr. Fırat Tarhan. May the peace and happiness of our families be eternal.”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “We aim for conscious individuals, healthy families, strong societies”
Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, Founding Rector of Üsküdar Üniversitesi and Chairman of the Board of NPİSTANBUL Beyin Hastanesi, shared the 2019 family research figures according to the TÜİK 2020 Report. Tarhan pointed out that while the marriage rate decreased by 2.3% compared to the previous year, the divorce rate increased by 8%, stating that the crude divorce rate has increased 6-fold in the last five years. Emphasizing that a strong family, which is the cornerstone of society, is the greatest need, Tarhan said that the project aims to achieve the necessary psychological maturity for conscious individuals, healthy families, and strong societies. Tarhan noted: “As Üsküdar Üniversitesi and NPİSTANBUL Beyin Hastanesi, we have launched a social responsibility project and completed our pilot study. With the support of our Governorship, we will start the second phase of work in 4 districts. Working for families to be happy homes that raise good people is our primary duty. Our project is also very valuable as it is the first project to use Positive Psychology methods.”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “The magic word related to family is cooperation”
Thanking Istanbul Governor Ali Yerlikaya, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said, “The protocol for the Families at the University Project was prepared by our esteemed deputy governor and our team after a long effort. This is a 6-month project. In this project, we want to reach families. More importantly than helping families who have reached the point of divorce in terms of preventive mental health, it is about teaching people family maturity. The magic word related to family is cooperation. We are working on teaching cooperation between women, men, and children, and problem-solving skills in these areas. Here, with the recommendations of our Governor, we have formalized this into an official protocol, and we will implement it within a 6-month period. We consider this a project that will benefit families and future generations.”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “The support of district governorships is very important”
Emphasizing that the support of local administrations is very valuable and important in the project, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said, “It is very important to cooperate with district governorships to reach those truly in need and for them to benefit from this project. Within the scope of our cooperation with the Governorship, the district governorships of Üsküdar, Pendik, Eyüp, and Gaziosmanpaşa will take part in our project as pilot districts. It is necessary to identify families who are truly in need. We aim to alleviate a child's problem, touch their soul, or help improve conflicts between parents. We have a team working in these areas. Our academics who conduct couple therapy and have expertise in family matters will dedicate their knowledge to this project.”
Fırat Tarhan: “Hopefully, the project will reach many people and bring peace to homes”
Fırat Tarhan, a Board Member of NPİSTANBUL Beyin Hastanesi, stated that with the support of Istanbul Governor Ali Yerlikaya and the deputy governor, efforts related to the project have begun in four districts of Istanbul, adding, “Hopefully, it will reach more people and be beneficial. It will bring peace to homes. I would like to thank our esteemed governor and the entire team.”
After the collaboration protocol ceremony, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan presented Istanbul Governor Ali Yerlikaya with books from Üsküdar Üniversitesi Publications.
Reporting of scientific data is aimed
The protocol aims to report the preventive, protective, and rehabilitative educational activities within the scope of the Families at the University Project and their scientific data, through the cooperation of the district governorships under the Istanbul Governorship with Üsküdar Üniversitesi and NPİSTANBUL Beyin Hastanesi. Üsküdar Üniversitesi and NPİSTANBUL Beyin Hastanesi will also prepare the reporting of the results (comparatively for each district and for Istanbul as a whole) and a scientific publication and report based on these results.
Training is provided according to the needs of individuals, couples, and families
The project, which aims to create a “Conscious Individual, Healthy Family, Strong Society” model, includes activities based on scientific studies that are protective, preventive, and rehabilitative.
White Group: To ensure individuals under 18 years old are educated on emotional maturity and relationship management.
Pink Group: To ensure individuals over 18 years old and couples preparing for marriage are aware of issues concerning “Marriage and Family.”
Orange Group: To support couples and families who are at risk, even if they are not yet experiencing problems.
Red Group: To empower couples and families who have difficulty coping with life's problems and need support.
The Families at the University Project is conducted via the website https://cdn.npistanbul.com/aile-universitesi/.
To date, the total number of applications is 1,455 people, with 1,186 people accepted for training. The first stage of the project was launched on June 22, 2020. While training continued through four different groups, 362 people received training within the scope of the programs that ended on August 10. In the project, each training was designed according to the needs of the individual or couples. Preventive, protective, and rehabilitative activities based on scientific studies were carried out in the project, which is aimed at all segments of society. During the pandemic, training was provided free of charge and through online systems.