Üsküdar University Founding Rector Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan attended the Probation Services 20th-anniversary regional meeting. Prof. Dr. Tarhan, who attended the meeting held in Izmir online, pointed out that they are in direct contact with probation cases. Emphasizing that efforts should be made for individuals to be included in social life, Tarhan stated that probation needs to transition to 2.0. Tarhan, who suggested that a probation academy could be established, also stated that we must start by correcting ourselves first.
“We are in direct contact with probation cases”
Emphasizing the importance of addressing the probation system, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said; “Probation is in its 20th year, and a great deal of experience has accumulated here. This continues as a self-renewing, developing system. It is very important to put the probation system on the table with its positive and negative aspects and to make improvements. Since I am also involved in addiction psychiatry, we are in direct contact with probation cases. In other words, as I see the cases, I say, 'Thank goodness for probation!'”
“The Probation System Needs to Transition to ‘Probation 2.0’”
Speaking about the three types of protection in medicine, Tarhan said; “The probation system needs to transition to ‘Probation 2.0’. For this, we have been working extensively with the İstanbul Anatolian Side Probation Directorate for 5-6 months. Currently, they come for probation training, they sign. They come for training and certain things are repeated there. However, we conducted a study on how these trainings are not sufficient, especially in addiction cases, and what can be done. There are three types of protection in medicine. The first is primary protection. That is, lifestyle trainings given to healthy people to prevent them from getting sick. The second is about early diagnosis and intervention to identify risk groups and prevent them from getting sick. The third is the protection system we call tertiary protection, or periterial protection, which is where probation is more involved. This is a rehabilitation-focused protection system. We need to consider how we can contribute to individuals being reintegrated into society, re-gaining employment, and participating in social life after serving their sentence and having paid their dues.”
“When the probation system does not function well, a perception of impunity arises in society”
Tarhan stated that Mindfulness practices also exist in Anatolian culture; “When the probation system does not function well, a perception of impunity arises in society, and deterrence weakens. People need strong reasons not to get involved in crime and violence. If there is no reason, we cannot correct it with external threats and external control. Internal control is needed. Work needs to be done to delve into their inner worlds. There are positive psychology practices focused on protection globally. Mindfulness applications are part of this. Even the Slovenian philosopher suggests seeking new solutions against Mindfulness and these. In fact, Mindfulness is about a person becoming aware of themselves and adding new meaning to their life based on this. These studies exist in our Anatolian culture. There are the teachings of Mevlana and Yunus Emre. They have taken these teachings, systematized them, and developed their methodology.”
“We must focus on how to win people over”
Tarhan, who suggested that a probation academy could be established, said; “Bristol University in England introduced a course against the suicide epidemic in 2019. We saw that this course was very useful. We teach the course to students. We get learning outcomes. There are many cases saying, ‘My relationship with my friend improved, my relationship with my father improved, I used to use substances, I quit.’ We thought about how we could systematize this and adapt it to probation. We created 20 modules. The Anatolian Probation team has a very good infrastructure. Our state has made a very good investment. It truly prevents many crimes and incidents. We must focus on how to win these people over. For this, there are many psychologist positions, social worker positions, and child development specialist positions. We had done something similar for families. Gaziantep Municipality established a Family Academy and did it this way. In other words, by making this system permanent, work can be carried out in the form of a probation academy.”
Start by fixing yourself to fix the world!
Addressing positive psychology in relation to addiction, Tarhan said; “Instead of describing the negative and calling it bad, we need to reinforce the positive. That is, the starting point here is like in the law of entropy. Engineers know it’s the second law of thermodynamics. That is, there is no darkness, there is the absence of light. There is no cold, there is the absence of heat. Similarly, there is no evil, there is the absence of good. We teach these individuals to win by doing good. There is a gratitude module. These try to ensure the person finds pleasure. Then, in terms of self-knowledge, we say, ‘Start by fixing yourself to fix the world.’ Another step is recognizing the emotions of others, meaning empathy is taught. Another step is attachment, addiction, and secure behavior relationships. The human need for attachment is a hormonal structure. The attachment hormone is oxytocin. It is secreted at the highest rate in breastfeeding mothers. There is this need for attachment. Because they cannot satisfy this, they become attached to substances…”
“When approaching anger, it is necessary to approach it with the firefighter model”
Explaining how anger management should be, Tarhan said; “We are all human, and we can all have situations where we get angry. Here, when approaching anger, it is necessary to approach it with the firefighter model. The firefighter first extinguishes, then investigates the cause. An angry person makes decisions with anger, saying, ‘Why was I wronged, why was this done to me?’ and a crime is committed. At that moment, methods such as cooling down anger are taught. There is also an impulse control module. Impulse control along with anger control. The tendency to immediately do the first thing that comes to mind. Many also have attention deficit hyperactivity issues. There is also an empathy and emotion management module. Here, beyond emotional literacy, it is necessary to be able to manage them as well. Motivation and time management is one of the other modules. We want to teach conciliation and conflict resolution, and forgiveness. Because forgiveness is like carrying a sack on one's back. One is crushed under it. However, if it can be forgiven, one should forgive; if not, one should use positive reinforcement methods. One will resolve their trauma that way.”
“There needs to be a mental sanctuary”
Explaining many different modules, Tarhan said; “Social media use is one of the other important modules. Moral values education is also among the important modules. We all have a core called conscience within us. We have genetic algorithms related to this core. For example, what Yalom calls the Four Basic Existential Anxieties. Our search for meaning, our need to overcome loneliness, our need to overcome freedom, the fear of death. With moral values education, regardless of one’s worldview, if one feels they belong to a meaning, there needs to be a mental sanctuary. Teaching this to these individuals as an internal control system, as an inner guard, as a conscience jury, is a very important step. In boundary setting and the ability to say no, it is necessary to teach these individuals where to draw the line. For example, instilling happiness and well-being skills. We explain all these in modules.” he concluded.