COVID-19 RESILIENCE PROGRAM (ISTKA) /

COVID-19 RESILIENCE PROGRAM (ISTKA)

Improving the Psychological Well-Being of Youth Experiencing Increased Future Anxiety During the Covid-19 Pandemic Project

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The project, titled “Improving the Psychological Well-Being of Youth Experiencing Increased Future Anxiety During the Covid-19 Pandemic”, was implemented under the COVID-19 Resilience Program.

Program: COVID-19 Resilience Program
Lead: Ibn Haldun University (PI: Burcu Uysal)
Partners: ÖNDER Alumni Association, Başakşehir Municipality
Contract No: TR10/20/COVID/0633

IMPACT

This project addressed rising exam and future anxiety among youth during the COVID-19 pandemic. It delivered a multi-layered model: online surveys, psychoeducation, therapy sessions, helpline support, and public awareness activities.

Reached: 2,301 people (direct & indirect)
Youth workshops: 30 groups / 380 participants
Exam anxiety program: 6 groups / 216 participants
Adult psychoeducation: 9 groups / 387 participants
Therapy: 54 people / 510 sessions
Helpline: 21 calls
Seminars: 14 videos / 3,103 views
Staff training: 8 modules / 24 hours

BENEFICIARIES

Youth: 400 Turkish & international high school students (14–19 yrs)
Adults: ~300 local residents, 65+ prioritized
Indirect: families, local community, NGOs, municipality

TEAM & OFFICE

Project office established in Başakşehir, Istanbul.
Staff: 1 coordinator, 3 assistants, 1 admin, 1 supervisor, 5 psychologists.
Advisory board: experts in psychiatry & psychology (Prof. Dr. Medaim Yanık, Prof. Dr. Vahdet Görmez, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hasan Turan Karatepe, Dr. Belkıs Öcal, Eren, Dr. Ebru Morgül).

KEY OUTCOMES

Youth: Lower general anxiety, exam stress, and rumination; higher hope & active coping.
Adults: Medium depression and anxiety; strong attendance in psychoeducation.
Model: A scalable online psychosocial support framework for pandemic resilience.