2 university students died by suicide in the last 10 days: Eğitim-Sen President Nejla Kurul and Specialist Psychologist Aslı Alpay spoke to 12punto!

Ezgi SİVRİTEPE- 12punto.com.tr

Following the suicide of Resul Alan in the cafeteria of Eskişehir Anadolu University's Yunus Emre Campus on October 15, another student, S.N.R., a student at Eskişehir Technical University, died by suicide on October 22 at the Mükrime Hatun KYK Girls' Dormitory where she was staying.

In a 3-page letter he left behind, Resul Alan stated that the reason for his suicide was not economic issues, anxiety about the future, or family problems; he noted that he had been thinking about suicide for a long time and felt worthless.

Friends of S.N.R. claimed that she was depressed because she had been in the preparatory class for two years and could not adapt to social life.

Eğitim-Sen President Nejla Kurul made evaluations regarding the suicides of university students, which have remained on Turkey's agenda. Specialist Psychologist Aslı Alpay shared her social assessments regarding the suicides with 12punto.com.tr.

WE WILL BUILD A COUNTRY THAT EMBRACES LIFE WITH JOY TOGETHER

Nejla Kurul stated that young people have lost their joy of living and drew attention to the economic difficulties being experienced.

Kurul also said the following:

“Even if university students get into university, they cannot benefit from the right to higher education due to their inability to cover living costs and alternative costs. Together, we must build a country on this earth where no one turns their back on life and where everyone embraces life with joy.”

HIGHER EDUCATION SHOULD BE A RIGHT

Nejla Kurul drew attention to the economic problems of university students and said, “In the face of universities left to the market, we must put forward the provision of higher education as a public service and as a right, and we must re-explain this important option to the public.”

THE LINK BETWEEN EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT MUST BE STRENGTHENED

Kurul also stated, “We are living through a bad period where the link between education and employment has been broken. However, we have solutions; we can do this with a socio-ecological society paradigm, meaning there is a need for a radical paradigm shift. In our view, receiving higher education is a right and should be financed by the public and through taxes. It is not right for the problems of young people to be left to ‘elders’ or ‘representatives.’ For this reason, an effective youth movement and allocating more budget to education could solve the problems of young people,” adding that they want to come together with university students but that this is very difficult in the polarized environment of Turkey.

Finally, Kurul stated that it is not just about allocating a budget, but that the budget must be used in favor of people, society, and nature.

SUBSTANCE USE AFFECTS THE PROCESS

While evaluating the suicide incidents through the mental and social problems that young people are experiencing, Psychologist Alpay also addressed the process from a social perspective in her assessments of the subject.

Alpay stated the following:

“Along with the process brought about by changing economic conditions, the climate crisis, wars, and the pandemic, the number of people who think there is no solution to their problems is increasing. For young people, along with these problems, generation gaps and the increasing use of substances among youth today are unfortunately contributing to this process.”

ALTHOUGH IT INCREASES SUCCESS, TOO MUCH IS A DISEASE OF THE AGE

Touching upon anxiety about the future, psychologist Alpay stated that anxiety about the future is a disease of the age, but that anxiety at a certain level is important for a person's self-improvement, success, and motivation. Alpay emphasized that if anxiety about the future is affecting an individual's life, young people should seek support from mental health professionals.

Listing things that can be done to cope with anxiety about the future, psychologist Alpay said, “Today, having a regular exercise habit, a healthy breathing habit, and mindfulness practices are studies that can support psychological well-being and enable people to reach healthy coping mechanisms that reduce their anxiety.”

“YOUNG PEOPLE CAN BENEFIT FROM THESE PLACES”

Recommending free counseling centers for the mental health of young people, Alpay said, “Every city has youth counseling centers and women's health counseling centers run by municipalities. There are also guidance centers in universities in this sense. Young people can benefit from these places.”

Finally, Alpay said that there should be suicide prevention programs, crisis centers should be established, and telephone help centers should be available.

News Source: Ezgi Sivritepe