The psychological aspect of digitalization due to the use of technology was discussed in the panel organized at Üsküdar University within the scope of October 10 World Mental Health Day. Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan pointed out that there is an important relationship between addiction and family ties and said that the risk of addiction is higher in people who feel lonely. Prof. Dr. Nesrin Dilbaz stated that one in every 10 children or adolescents is diagnosed with a mental illness today, and noted that having good mental health does not always mean being happy. Dilbaz underlined the importance of mental flexibility in coping with mental problems,
This year's theme of October 10 World Mental Health Day, which was first declared by the World Federation of Mental Health in 1992, was determined as "Young People and Mental Health in a Changing World". In the panel organized within the scope of World Mental Health Day at Üsküdar University, technology addiction, digitalization and mental resilience faced by young people were discussed.
Prof. Dr. Hüsnü Erkmen: "We are facing a new mental health problem"
The panel held at Üsküdar University Altunizade Campus Nermin Tarhan Conference Hall was moderated by Üsküdar University Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, Department of Psychology Faculty Member, NPISTANBUL Hospital Psychiatry Specialist. Prof. Dr. Hüsnü Erkmen conducted. Reminding that today is World Mental Health Day, Erkmen said, "We are facing a new mental health problem; excessive use of social media. Today, our two important experts will warn you about a very important issue. We need to be warned about this issue, otherwise it will be a big problem in the coming times."
Prof. Dr. Nesrin Dilbaz: "Mental flexibility is important in coping with mental problems"
Üsküdar University NPISTANBUL Hospital AMATEM Coordinator and Üsküdar University Addiction Application and Research Center Director Prof. Dr. Nesrin Dilbaz shared information about "Mental Resilience in Young People" and gave important advice to parents and teachers.
Why is mental resilience important?
Prof. Dr. Nesrin Dilbaz, who listed the most common mental illnesses in young people as anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, alcohol and substance abuse according to research conducted in our country, pointed out the importance of awareness and mental flexibility in combating and coping with these problems. Prof. Dr. Nesrin Dilbaz said, "Mental flexibility is the state of reversing the situation when faced with difficulties. It is an important part of being successful because real success is already hard to achieve."
One in every 10 children diagnosed with mental illness
Prof. Dr. Nesrin Dilbaz stated that mental awareness and flexibility is a feature that should exist not only in children, adolescents and young people, but in fact in all of us, and that it protects us from many mental problems and mental illnesses. "Today, one in every 10 children or adolescents is diagnosed with mental illness. This means 2-3 children in almost every class in the country. My message today is to teachers, especially teachers in National Education and of course to parents. Because if we raise our children as children with mental awareness and mental flexibility, we will not reach these numbers you see."
Being mentally healthy does not mean being happy!
Emphasizing that having good mental health does not always mean being happy, Prof. Dr. Nesrin Dilbaz said, "It is not possible for us to be happy at all times. Such an expectation is also not right. But at the point we are at now, this is what everyone, including parents, understands by being mentally healthy; to be happy. Our definition, in particular, is the state of being well enough to realize their own potential, to cope with the normal stresses of life, to work efficiently and productively, and to contribute to society.
Look, it does not include being happy at all. It is about coping with the difficulties of life, the stresses of life. Coping with the challenges of life is one of the characteristics of mental resilience.
In this sense, we see that children with good mental health perceive the outside world well. When they perceive the outside world in a healthy way, things go easier. Children with good mental health can feel emotions in a positive and negative range. They can express and manage them. They have healthy and good relationships with others. They can cope with and manage change and uncertainty. They develop and become happy."
Bead children do not learn problem solving
Describing today's Generation Z children as "Bead Children" because they are protected by their families, Prof. Dr. Nesrin Dilbaz said: "Generation Z has many equipment because they grew up with technology and received different educations, but these equipment cannot provide them with satisfaction. On the contrary, it makes them tense and eventually unhappiness arises. Their parents exaggerate their children's characteristics, pump them with artificial self-confidence, and give them explicit or implicit messages that they are the most important in the world. These children are made to live in a false world where they are not supposed to be upset, not to have difficulties and not to be unhappy. They are given medication before they even have a headache, they are not given the opportunity to solve problems with a friend at school and they are made to conclude that they are right in every situation."
Family and school cooperation is important
Emphasizing that good mental health and prevention of mental illness in children should be among the important goals of schools, Prof. Dr. Nesrin Dilbaz said: "Good mental health is essential for children's learning and success. For children and the adults around them, options should be offered to ensure the development of strengths and coping mechanisms that will support resilience. It is necessary to make the mental health and well-being of the child, parent and school staff everyone's business. There should be goals such as cooperation, leadership and development in schools and locally; family involvement, children's right to have a say, and grading schools according to certain criteria."
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: "Preventive mental health is important"
Üsküdar University Rector, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, in his presentation titled "Changing World and Youth", explained the impact of the digitalized world on young people with technology. Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that as Üsküdar University, they have been attaching importance to Positive Psychology and teaching it as a compulsory course since 2012 and pointed out the importance of positive psychology in terms of preventive and protective mental health. Tarhan said, "It is important to take precautions before problems arise.
There are three areas of health; curative medicine, preventive medicine and preventive medicine. The most important is the third one. The field that strives to prevent people from getting sick is very important in the world. With the measures taken, it is possible to prevent possible problems."
When attention and time are managed, the mind is also managed!
Stating that we are living in a digital era, Prof. Dr. Tarhan said, "We are experiencing a digital revolution. Will we be a subject or an object in social media? We need to decide this. If we become an object, we will be managed. But if we are the subject, we will manage social media. For this, we need to have a purpose, an ego ideal." Pointing to the importance of mind control, Tarhan said, "Since everyone is digitalized with the digital revolution, technologies are developing techniques to convince people. They say that if we convince people on two issues, we can manage people's minds. One is to manage time and the other is to manage attention."
Three expectations of young people should be met appropriately
Prof. Tarhan stated that the three vulnerable points of young people are the expectation of justice, hatred of overbearing behavior and the expectation of freedom and said, "These expectations of young people should be met appropriately. When this expectation is not met, the youth is either oppressed or develops a reverse identity."
The language that young people understand must be found!
"I see that the elders cannot understand the youth," Tarhan said, "We are missing the young generation. It is important for young people to be happy, a happy young person does not turn to addiction, does not feel the need. But it is also important for parents or administrators to find the language that young people understand.
A sense of fairness is important for young people to feel safe. We need to manage love in the family. If we cannot manage it in a fair way, problems arise among young people."
Noting that the feeling of feeling special is much more important in new generations, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said, "Perhaps it has never been seen in the history of humanity that ego has been so widespread and increased.
Imposing approaches backfire on young people. Therefore, instead of giving orders, it is necessary to offer options. The most important solution is to establish a dialog with young people. We should not approach young people in a domineering way, otherwise we will lose them," he warned.
Feeling lonely is a risk in addiction!
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan pointed out that there is an important relationship between addiction and family ties and said, "There is a causal relationship between the need for attachment and addiction. When people feel lonely, they look for an object to connect to. If the social environment is not nourishing, if the family is not happy and peaceful, young people look for a solution in substances. They fulfill their need for attachment. Substance addiction is called a "family disease". If family ties or psychological support in the family is good, even if the child turns to substances, he/she returns again. Therefore, it is important to address addiction treatment not only through the individual, but also the family."
The panel, which was broadcast live on ÜÜ TV, attracted great interest. At the end of the panel, the participants had their photos taken together.
Aiming to raise awareness
Üsküdar University, which carries out studies on public health, and its implementation partner NPISTANBUL Hospital have implemented a new awareness-raising movement in order to improve and protect the mental health of young people and to raise awareness against possible dangers such as addiction, physical and emotional violence.
Information is provided withwww.onuyalnizbirakma.com
The movement, realized with the slogan "You Notice! Don't Leave Him Alone" and supported by a website, aims to raise awareness of young people against all kinds of threats to their mental and physical health, such as addiction, peer bullying, physical and mental violence, and to increase their mental resilience against possible threats. With www.onuyalnizbirakma.com, it is aimed to raise awareness of young people and families about mental health and to recognize the problems experienced by children and young people. In this context, an awareness video starring Üsküdar University staff and children was prepared. The video draws attention to the abuse of the internet and emphasizes the impending danger.
You can access the video from the link below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4FFaNvihNM