President of Üsküdar University and Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan was a live guest on the TGRT Haber morning program “Gün Başlıyor” with Seda Akbay. Commenting on the "TURKSTAT 2024 Youth Survey Results," Prof. Tarhan stated that just as the global system consumes everything, it also consumes relationships. Emphasizing that wild capitalism is poisoning the youth, Tarhan pointed out that the most significant factor affecting the population is the erosion of values. He also underlined the preventative role of family support in mental illnesses, stating that no diagnosis can be made without knowing the root cause.
"Schooling rate has increased significantly"
President of Üsküdar University and Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan, drew attention to the rapid decline in the young population. In the live broadcast, he stated that “I examined the TURKSTAT statistics. When we compare the 2024 results with those from 2014, published on the data portal on May 16, there are some positive developments. Especially the schooling rate has increased significantly. While it used to be around 38%, it has now approached 50%. This is one of the significant developments. Other data also show some changes in Turkey’s life satisfaction surveys regarding health. One of the most striking issues is the youth population ratio, which is still increasing in Turkey compared to EU countries. If this trend continues, in the next 10, 20, or 30 years, we will fall below the EU average. There is a rapid decline in the young population, particularly in the western provinces, while there is an increase in the eastern provinces. For instance, in Hakkari, the youth population was 24% ten years ago, but it has now dropped to 20%. In western provinces like Balıkesir, the youth ratio has fallen below the EU average. Bulgaria has the lowest rate, and the decline in Turkey’s youth population is now at the level of Bulgaria’s. This essentially signals a halt in population growth for us.”
"The most significant factor affecting population is the erosion of values"
Tarhan noted the presence of a global mindset that sees the family as an obstacle and made the following remarks: “In terms of economic conditions, the western provinces are better off than the eastern ones. As comfort increases, people try to enjoy life more and tend to postpone marriage. There is an unwritten psychological law found even in plants. When reproduction halts in plants, florists place them in a closed, dark space and cover them. After three days, when uncovered, buds begin to form. The feeling of ‘my future and life are under threat’ triggers reproduction. After wars, reproduction rates have risen. Currently, in Eastern societies, there is some identity confusion and a security crisis. People there may be reacting with an unconscious mechanism towards procreation. Those with better economic status and greater welfare are more hesitant about marriage. This should be considered through a psychological dynamic. Another reason is the increase in schooling, especially among conservative communities. Compared to 10 or 20 years ago, the rate of sending children, particularly girls, to school has risen. Previously, many girls could not attend school due to dress codes. They would marry early and, as a reaction, have more children. That option has now become widespread across Turkey. This also seems to be an invisible reason for the decline in population. Previous generations had to mature in scarcity, while today’s youth must mature in abundance. Maturing in abundance is harder. There is now a global mindset that views growing up, marrying, and having children as burdens. This mindset also influences our children. The idea of the family being a hindrance is not unique to Turkey, but it is a global issue. There is an erosion of values. I believe the most important factor affecting the population is this erosion of values. Economic reasons are consequential. Of course, they exist, but more important is the increased hedonistic view toward marriage, the rise of materialism, and the decline in idealistic youth. These should also be considered significant contributing factors.”
"Family support plays a preventive role in mental illnesses"
Emphasizing that incentives related to the family should be continued and expanded, Tarhan said that “In the East, even in Tunceli, there is a demographic trend similar to that of the West. In Central Anatolia, places like Niğde show results close to the East. Kırıkkale and later Karabük also show similar trends, but Central Anatolia generally represents the national average. The increase in Eastern Anatolia is not something new. It was also seen in statistics from 10 years ago. For example, in Hakkari, the youth population rate was 24% in 2014. I checked TURKSTAT’s data portal for 2014 and found that by 2024, it had dropped from 24% to 20%. So, there is a general decline there as well. Fertility rates have now decreased. In this regard, the incentives being implemented are very appropriate, which is encouraging marriage, encouraging childbearing. These are highly valuable and should be further strengthened.
People have various concerns, but one of Turkey’s strengths is the ‘family safety net.’ If something happens to a family member, some families, due to economic reasons, now live together as extended families. Our family support, as a form of social support, helps prevent suicides, prevents crime, and plays a key role in preventing the rise of many mental illnesses.”
"We cannot make a diagnosis without knowing the root cause"
Highlighting the weakening sense of security that marriage traditionally provides, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan said that “There is a globally parallel negative trend in Turkey in terms of increasing divorce rates, weakening family bonds, and rising rates of births out of wedlock. This has started to erode the sense of security that marriage once offered. For this reason, people, especially the youth, are generally keeping their distance from marriage due to global influences. The new norm seems to be marrying at the age of 35 and having only one child. This is the trend blowing in from the West, and now that wind has reached us too. People are saying, ‘I only live once, I will live as I please.’ This mindset is becoming common.
It is less about economic conditions and more about the erosion of values, that is, the meaning attached to marriage. We are under the influence of a global propaganda that asks, ‘Why bother with marriage?’ Without even realizing it, we are mentally buying into this.
Support is good, but we must perform a root cause analysis. Why are young people not getting married? Helping and encouraging them is a short-term solution, that is useful and necessary, but why has this become the case? If we do not identify the root cause, we cannot diagnose the problem. And if we cannot diagnose it, we cannot treat it. That is why it is crucial to find the source of the issue. The government is aware of this, and our President has declared this the Year of the Family.”
"Just as the global system consumes everything, it also consumes relationships"
Stressing that young people today are afraid of marriage, Tarhan said that “They are afraid because divorces and bad examples have increased. A young person says, ‘My friend got married. Two or three years later, they separated rooms, then separated houses. If I get married, will I regret it?’ One of the most common questions we hear is, ‘Is marriage really necessary? What happens if we don’t get married?’ However, marriage is aligned with human psychological and biological nature. Relationships outside of marriage are generally superficial. Just as the global system consumes everything, it also consumes relationships. Long-term, deep, lasting friendships are increasingly rare. For instance, the Turkish word ‘dost’ (a deep and loyal friend) has no true equivalent in English. Family relationships, beyond marriage, are built on trust. Without trust within the family, marriage cannot survive. That is why individuals must reach a level of marital maturity before marrying. If a person is ready for marriage, they should not hesitate to do so. But today’s youth do not understand the concept of marriage maturity. They live for short-term pleasures, but in the medium and long term, they will face loss. Is having a family, which eliminates loneliness and provides shelter, less important than building a successful factory? Those who can transcend their egos act more wisely when it comes to marriage. Today’s youth tend to act emotionally, impulsively, and impatiently. However, if they acted with wisdom, they would realize that marriage is more compatible with human psychological and biological nature. Someone who is peaceful at home becomes more enterprising, dynamic, and successful in their professional life.”
"Wild capitalism has poisoned our youth"
Touching on the importance of having abstract goals in life, Tarhan said that “We have made many aspects of life easier. Compared to 10 or 20 years ago, young people today have access to much more, but they lack ideals. They have no ego ideals. Fewer young people today have life goals worth struggling for. Under the influence of global media, young people now aim for money, status, and sex as their ego ideals. However, people need abstract goals in life. They need to ask themselves: ‘How do I want to be remembered at the end of my life? What kind of person do I want to be?’ Our education system teaches only material goals. I’ve pointed this out with some humor: A student in high school becomes a fascist, in university becomes a communist or atheist, in working life becomes a capitalist, and in retirement becomes a Muslim. This is the generation we are raising. Therefore, the philosophy of science in our education system is flawed. It needs to be corrected. That is why our youth have become hedonistic and convenience-oriented. The American system that teaches young people to chase pleasure as an ego ideal is not a good model for our youth. This capitalism is poisoning us. Wild capitalism has poisoned our youth.”
Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)