Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, who attended the opening ceremony of the Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality Family Academy, said that the Family Academy would yield results like a ‘Family Vaccine’. Emphasizing that the theoretical basis of the model rests on bio-psycho-socio-spiritual reality, Tarhan said, “This project was a pilot study; the first phase was carried out in 2020 with the Üsküdar Üniversitesi team in the Istanbul Governorship with 4 district governorships. Implementer training was provided to the Gaziantep Municipality. Shortly after, this academy was established.”
The opening program, to which Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan was also invited, was attended by numerous names including Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş, Minister of Trade Prof. Dr. Ömer Bolat, Gaziantep Governor Kemal Çeber, and Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Fatma Şahin.
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “Family Academy will be like a ‘Family Vaccine’…”
Attending the opening of the Family Academy implemented by the Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan began his speech by saying, "I thank everyone who contributed, in the person of our esteemed Minister Fatma Şahin, for realizing such a multidisciplinary project concerning family," and stated that the Family Academy would yield results like a 'Family Vaccine'.
“We can say that the Family Academy will yield results like a 'Family Vaccine'. This project was a pilot study; the first phase was carried out in 2020 with the Üsküdar Üniversitesi team in the Istanbul Governorship with 4 district governorships, and implementer training was provided to the Gaziantep Municipality. Shortly after, this academy was established.
The theoretical basis of the model rests on bio-psycho-socio-spiritual reality.
Many families have been reached, and primary and secondary protections have been put in place. Seeing successful implementations on site personally made us very happy.”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “Household fragility is rapidly increasing…”
Tarhan stated that divorces, in particular, have increased, reaching a rate of 38% in the first five years according to TÜİK (Turkish Statistical Institute), approaching European figures, and added, "Household fragility has increased, Turkey is in a good situation regarding out-of-wedlock births, but a crisis appears imminent in 10-20 years. Nowadays, protection and prevention work is much more prioritized than medical treatment. Especially in Gaziantep, the support of the Public Prosecutor's Office and Bar Associations in this regard is valuable.”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “Mediation is an interim solution that will reduce the burden on family courts”
In his speech, Tarhan drew attention to the importance of mediation. Tarhan said; "In our legal system, it has become a necessity to include the 'Mediation' system, which will reduce the workload of family courts, accelerate consensual divorces, and offer a conciliation option. The Family Academy can be a part of its team. Evaluating the family within the inclusive realm of mediation rather than the contentious environment of litigation is a very accurate solution.”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “Our minds are being invaded…”
Tarhan stated that we are currently exposed to the 'invasion of minds,' which is more important than the invasion of land, and said that protecting our last refuge, the family, is a great responsibility, adding:
“Our esteemed Minister of Trade Ömer Bolat, please correct me if I am wrong. Commercial mediation has been successful up to 70%, rental mediation has begun. Statistics show that 20% of divorced couples return.
Modernism abandoned the institution of family, saying 'the individual is sacred, not the family.' We must uphold a family-centric culture, not patriarchal or matriarchal, as defined by our esteemed President Erdoğan.
The European experience of our esteemed Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş is a chance for us. Making future generations and children smile will be the fruit of this project. I extend my gratitude and thanks to everyone who contributed to this sacred duty."
During the opening ceremony of the Family Academy, Gaziantep Governor Kemal Çeber, in his speech, drew attention to the fact that our minds are under attack, stating that the family is the target and that they support this project.
Minister of Trade Prof. Dr. Ömer Bolat stated that the mediation system was successful in the Ministry of Trade and that it would be beneficial to consider it in the family domain as well.
Minister of Family and Social Policies Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş, in her speech at the ceremony, emphasized the importance of the Family Academy implementation becoming widespread throughout Turkey.
“We derive our strength from the family”
Drawing attention to the importance of the family, Göktaş said, "Family is one of the most valuable treasures a person can have in life. Family is a bridge between past and future, child and parent, individual and society. We derive our strength from the family. The power and problem-solving ability of the family is also the guarantee of social peace."
Minister Göktaş stated that when the foundations of the family are strengthened, the foundations of society are also strengthened, adding, "A strong family means a strong society. Strengthening the institution of family is important for the healthy continuation of social structure and social development."
