The Centre for Turkey Studies (CEFTUS) would like to invite you to a public forum titled ‘Suicide among Turkish, Kurdish, Cypriot Diasporas in Europe’ with keynote speakers Özlem Eylem of the Centre for Psychiatry Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine; Dr Aradhana Perry of East London NHS Foundation Trust, City & Hackney Directorate Department of Psychology, The Raybould Centre, Homerton Hospital; Dr Esra Caglar, Consultant Psychiatrist; Nursel Tas, Chief Executive Officer of DERMAN; and other experts (TBC).
The event will take place between 7-9PM on Monday, 16 October 2017 at a central London venue. RSVP for location details.
In the UK, systematic data showing suicide rates in Turkish-speaking populations do not exist as this population is usually classified as “white other ethnic background” in national statistics for suicide and for health services-use. In 2009, 11 men of Turkish and Kurdish background committed suicide in London. Following this, several researchers such as Nursel Taş and colleagues from Derman, Ümit Çetin and Özlem Eylem have investigated the reasons leading to suicide attempts in these populations. Up until now, sociological reasons (e.g. feeling alienated to their own community), psychological reasons (e.g. fear of failing responsibilities towards their family and community) as well as cultural reasons (e.g. shame and stigma attached to disclosing suicidal intent) have been identified consistently.
This public forum with experts in the field aims to raise public awareness about suicide as an existing issue in the Turkish, Kurdish and Cypriot communities in the UK and Europe. Experts from various disciplines will discuss the preceding psychological and socio-economic reasons behind suicide. Additionally, how these reasons should be addressed in the current health system and the role of e-health in solving the inaccessibility issue will be highlighted.
We look forward to welcoming you to this event.
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