Türkiye, one of the largest refugee-hosting countries in the world, recently hosted our Training of Facilitators (ToF) on Self Help Plus (SH+). Organized by the Initiative on Social Work and Forced Migration (ISWFM) in collaboration with the Afghan Refugee Solidarity Association (ARSA), this event took place in November 2024 in Kayseri, Türkiye.
The training brought together seven Iranian and Afghan service providers, equipping them with the tools and knowledge to deliver SH+, a low-intensity psychological intervention designed to support mental health and well-being among refugees and asylum seekers. Facilitated by Dr. Ceren Acarturk from Koç University and Dr. Yasemin Sohtorik İlkmen from Boğaziçi University, with co-facilitation by Zeynep İlkkurşun, the program aimed to prepare future trainers to address the unique challenges faced by displaced populations.
This initiative is part of the larger ISWFM project titled “Mental Health of Afghan Asylum Seekers in Türkiye: A Low-Intensity Psychological and Cash Assistance Intervention,” supported by funding from the McDonnell International Scholars Academy, the WashU Global Health Center, and WashU Here & Next.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to ARSA and Dr. Zakira Hekmat, as well as Drs. Acarturk and İlkmen, Ms. İlkkurşun, and the interpreters, for their dedication and contributions to making this event a success. We also extend our gratitude to the World Health Organization (WHO) for providing the Dari version of SH+ for use during the training.
