The opening ceremony of the Independent Living Protection (YAŞAMKOR) Project, carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Türkiye, the Governorship of Istanbul, and Üsküdar University under the leadership of the Therapeutic Brain Mapping Association (TBHD), was held. The project, which aims to strengthen young people’s emotional resilience and promote a culture of volunteerism in the fight against addiction, drew great interest. As part of the program, a talk titled “Psychological Resilience” was delivered by Prof. Nevzat Tarhan. In his speech, Tarhan emphasized the importance of building a strong stance against addiction and noted that with the “psychological resilience vaccine,” they aim to make young people resistant to evil.
The project launch program, held at the Ibn-i Sina Auditorium of Üsküdar University NP Health Campus, was attended by Deputy Governor of Istanbul Fahrettin Göncü, President of Üsküdar University Prof. Nevzat Tarhan, District Governor of Ümraniye Yüksel Çelik, District Governor of Gaziosmanpaşa İskender Yönden, Director of Üsküdar University Young Brains Academy Research and Application Center and Social Contribution Coordinator Asst. Prof. Nebiye Yaşar, and Project Coordinator Asst. Prof. Aslı Zeynep Başabak Bhais, as well as academics and health sciences students.
Asst. Prof. Nebiye Yaşar: “We aim to contribute to society by spreading the culture of volunteerism.”
The first opening remarks were delivered by Asst. Prof. Nebiye Yaşar, Director of Üsküdar University Young Brains Academy Research and Application Center and Social Contribution Coordinator. Yaşar said: “Today, we are launching a very valuable project. Leibniz’s quote, ‘Whoever guides the youth toward good, guides humanity toward good,’ summarizes this project in the best way. In this initiative that centers on protecting life, under the leadership of our professor, we have developed four social innovation projects: YaşamKor, GüvenKor, RehaKor, and AileKor. This model presents a sustainable, innovative, and effective example of collaboration. The ideas of our esteemed professor form the foundation of these projects and provide solutions in many areas, especially in the fight against addiction. As our professor says, ‘We must give new answers to old questions.’ With these projects, together with young people, we aim to spread the culture of volunteerism and contribute to society.”
İskender Yönden: “I wish this project to be beneficial.”
As part of the protocol speeches, Gaziosmanpaşa District Governor İskender Yönden also addressed the audience, stating: “Although we are not directly involved in this project, I would like to thank Prof. Tarhan for the great support he has provided to the Gaziosmanpaşa District Governorship and for his contributions to all the projects we have carried out so far. This year is the Year of the Family, and the White House Project, which we have been continuing for nearly seven years, holds an important place in this regard. I would like to address my colleague, the District Governor of Ümraniye, you are truly very lucky, because working with Prof. Tarhan is a great privilege. I believe this is also a significant opportunity for young people. On this occasion, I thank our professor and wish this project to be beneficial for our Ministry of Interior, the Ümraniye District Governorship, and our university.”
Yüksel Çelik: “Addiction is one of the most pressing problems of our time”
Another speaker during the protocol addresses was Ümraniye District Governor Yüksel Çelik. Çelik stated: “I am very pleased to be part of such a meaningful program. Addiction is one of the most pressing problems of our time and is among the issues we encounter most frequently in our duties. We see these problems in the field across many areas such as substance, alcohol, gambling, and technology addiction, and we are seeking solutions. That is why I find this project, carried out under the guidance of one of Turkey’s most esteemed professors, extremely valuable.
Ümraniye is a large district with a population of 750,000 and 125,000 students. Together with the students, we face serious problems that affect society as a whole. I believe that with its prevention- and early intervention-focused approach, this project will help guide our young people to life before they turn toward addiction. I hope it will bring good to our region and our country.”
Dr. Aslı Zeynep Başabak Bhais: “Our main goal is to strengthen young people’s emotional resilience”
As part of the opening program, Project Coordinator Dr. Aslı Zeynep Başabak Bhais of Üsküdar University presented the YAŞAMKOR Project. Başabak stated: “The main goal of our project is to increase young people’s emotional resilience and psychological strength. Addiction is a disease that affects not only the individual but also their family and society. Therefore, we include not only young people but also their families and educators in the process. The project has three main target groups: young people aged 10–14, their guidance counselors, and their families. Within the six-month program, 60 young people will participate in eight structured training sessions prepared by an expert team. For guidance counselors, a special four-session program has been prepared covering topics such as addiction, adolescence, and early intervention. Additionally, information sessions will be held for families on emotional regulation, communication skills, conflict resolution, and fostering healthy habits. With this comprehensive project, our aim is to support independent living and build a strong future.”
After the opening speeches, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan, President of Üsküdar University, delivered a talk on “Psychological Resilience.” The interactive session was moderated by journalist Şaban Özdemir.
Prof. Nevzat Tarhan: “This project is about planting seeds in the developing spirit of young people”
Congratulating everyone who contributed to the realization of the project, Tarhan said:“This project is about planting seeds in the developing spirit of young people.”
“To achieve psychological resilience, one must build deep, qualified, and meaningful relationships”
Explaining what is necessary to develop psychological resilience, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan stated: “The first condition of psychological resilience is a stable and positive mood. The second dimension is commitment, being able to fully engage in something. For example, you start working on a task, hours pass by, and you say, ‘I didn’t realize how time flew.’ This is a very important step for psychological resilience. If you have an occupation where you lose track of time, that becomes a powerful resource for you. Because a person has both work and an occupation. Occupations are activities that satisfy a person and enable self-transcendence. The third dimension is the ability to build healthy relationships. But here we are not talking about superficial ties, but deep and meaningful ones. Today, people may have hundreds or even thousands of followers, but most of these relationships are superficial. For psychological resilience, it is necessary to form deep, qualified, and meaningful relationships. The fourth dimension is being part of a higher meaning and purpose. A person must connect to a goal greater than themselves. And finally, it is being able to achieve successes, small or large. These are the indispensable elements of psychological resilience.”
“The capitalist system turns desires into needs”
Highlighting the importance of balancing desires and needs, Tarhan said: “Modernism and the capitalist system constantly give us the message: ‘You must achieve more, try again if you fail.’ Yet a person should have a higher goal. In the introduction of economics books, economics is defined as ‘the science of developing human’s limited resources for unlimited needs.’ That is, we have limited resources, but it is assumed that we have unlimited needs. In reality, humans do not have unlimited needs, but they have unlimited desires. The capitalist system, however, does not distinguish between desires and needs; it portrays desires as needs. What happens then? When someone sees something they like in a store window, they feel the urge to buy it. A young girl reading fashion magazines may become depressed for this very reason. Because the capitalist system turns desires into needs, and this disrupts mental health. In terms of psychological resilience, learning the balance between needs and desires is crucial. A person must ask themselves: ‘Do I really need this, or do I just want it?’ Those who can make this distinction also succeed in finding happiness in small things.”
Stronger than family influence on young people…
Answering questions from the audience, Tarhan emphasized the importance of social media literacy: “Periods between ages 0–3 and 10–13 are critical stages when synapses in the brain develop intensely and are pruned by external stimuli. Artificial intelligence studies are also inspired by the way these neural networks develop. For this reason, childhood and the family environment are extremely important. When a child begins to gain independence, they enter adolescence. Adolescence is also known as the ‘gang age,’ where being part of a group gives great pleasure. At this point, good friends are very important. If a child establishes healthy relationships, after parents, they come under the strongest influence of their peers. The second crucial element here is education. Especially primary school years play a critical role in shaping a child’s personality. Primary school teachers are vital role models. However, today, there is a factor surpassing all of these: social media. Social media can have a stronger impact on young people than even their families. Smartphones are like an open door in the home. Even if we provide a safe environment at home, through their phones children can easily access the most unsafe spaces. For this reason, media and social media literacy is of great importance. In the modules we have prepared, we aim to teach children social media literacy.”
“It has become difficult to find people whose inside matches their outside”
Emphasizing the importance of applying the method of categorical thinking, Tarhan said: “A person who can regulate emotions can manage even negative feelings. For instance, after listening to one patient’s story, a therapist may need to immediately move on to the next patient. At that point, the categorical thinking method must be applied. The person places the previous matter, or even their problems at home, on a mental shelf and says: ‘I will think about this in the evening.’ Then they focus their attention on the new patient. In this way, they can direct both their attention and emotions to the subject at hand. This is not insincere because postponing one issue does not mean ignoring it. Here, categorical and strategic thinking comes into play. The person creates a plan in their mind and solves the problem when the time comes. When attention and emotion are directed properly, solutions emerge. This resolution is reflected in facial expressions, body language, and communication style. Transparent, accountable, and open relationships foster sincerity. Sincerity activates the mirror neurons in our brains, increases trust, and builds a sense of reliability in others. One of the greatest losses in today’s world is sincerity. People act, wear masks, that is, their inner selves and outer selves do not align. It has become increasingly difficult to find people whose inner and outer selves are truly the same. One of the reasons for this is that we live in an age of speed and pleasure, which has shifted our priorities.”
“The most important strength in a crisis is being prepared for it”
Drawing attention to the importance of crisis safety planning, Tarhan said: “The most important strength in a crisis is being prepared for it. In our culture, we often try to manage crises only after they erupt. However, the first requirement of crisis management is having a crisis safety plan. For instance, an individual at risk of suicide is given a suicide safety plan. This plan outlines what the person should do to avoid suicide during a crisis and how their parents should respond. Similarly, a safety plan should be developed for every type of crisis. For example, we may be successful at extinguishing a fire once it starts. However, we often fall short in taking the necessary precautions to prevent fires from starting, or in making mental investments in this area. That’s why we constantly face crises, and the problem grows bigger. A person who is prepared for a crisis does not panic in the moment. Instead of asking, ‘What should I do now?’ they apply step by step what they have already learned in advance.”
Book presentation
At the end of the talk, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan presented a set of his authored books to Istanbul Deputy Governor Fahrettin Göncü, Gaziosmanpaşa District Governor İskender Yönden, and Ümraniye District Governor Yüksel Çelik.
The opening program concluded with a group photo session.