Our University operated a multi-component mental health support system in 2025 to support the mental, emotional, and social wellbeing of its academic and administrative staff. This system included access to free psychological counselling and guidance services, individual psychological consultations, brief counselling sessions, psychological assessment, referral to specialist healthcare services when necessary, as well as preventive and protective mental health training. The University’s approach does not consider mental health solely within the framework of treating psychological problems after they occur; it also encompasses strengthening employees’ psychological resilience, supporting their capacity to cope with stress and emotional difficulties encountered in working life, increasing awareness of mental health, and ensuring access to appropriate professional support when needed. Within the University’s institutional approach to Sustainable Development Goal 3, the physical, mental, and social health of students and staff is supported through education, research, and services, and “Mental health support for staff” is specifically identified among the University’s health and wellbeing practices.
The principal institutional mental health mechanism directly accessible to staff is the Psychological Counselling and Guidance Unit operating under the Department of Health, Culture and Sports. The Unit’s official webpage explicitly states that “all KTÜ staff and students may apply to the Psychological Counselling and Guidance Unit”, and that the service is provided free of charge from Monday to Friday. Mental health support is therefore structured not only as a student service, but also as an institutional support mechanism that academic and administrative staff can access directly.
Evidence:
https://www.ktu.edu.tr/sks/psikolojik-danismanlik-ve-rehberlik-birimi
The institutional continuity of this access is also confirmed by official University records. In response to feedback received from University students and staff, the Psychological Counselling and Guidance service has been operating within the Department of Health, Culture and Sports since 30 May 2022 in order to support individuals in addressing personal, emotional, social, educational, and professional development-related difficulties. The fact that the service is explicitly described as having been established for both “students” and “staff” demonstrates that staff access to mental health support is not a temporary initiative, but an institutionalised University service.
Evidence:
https://surdurulebilirlik.ktu.edu.tr/sks/duyuru/psikolojik-danismanlik-ve-rehberlik-hizmeti
The psychological support available to staff is not limited to general information or signposting. According to the official service description of the Psychological Counselling and Guidance Unit, individual counselling sessions aim to help people develop the skills needed to cope with difficulties that may hinder their academic, social, or personal development. Individual sessions generally last 45–50 minutes and may continue over multiple sessions depending on need. In addition, approximately 15-minute brief consultations are available in urgent situations or when rapid information and guidance are required. Following a brief consultation, the individual may continue with individual counselling or be referred to another specialist or healthcare unit depending on their needs.
Another important component of the mental health support system is referral to advanced professional care. Where, following an initial consultation, it is considered more appropriate for the individual to receive support from another specialist or institution, the Psychological Counselling and Guidance Unit may refer the person to psychiatry, neurology, or other specialist services according to need. This mechanism ensures that staff can access not only first-line psychological counselling, but also appropriate professional support when more advanced clinical assessment is required.
The safe and inclusive delivery of these services is also safeguarded by institutional principles. The working principles of the Psychological Counselling and Guidance Unit explicitly include confidentiality, equality, voluntariness, and respect for the individual. Information provided by applicants is not shared with third parties except where required under relevant health legislation, and services are delivered equally and impartially without discrimination on the basis of gender, ethnicity, religion, nationality, social class, or similar characteristics. The fact that counselling is based on voluntariness and cooperation provides an important institutional safeguard, particularly for employees seeking mental health support in a safe and confidential setting.
In addition to individual psychological support, our University incorporated protective and preventive mental health education into its staff support system. A strong example from 2025 was the training entitled “Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Practices in Mental Health”, delivered on 28 February 2025 to all staff within the framework of the Human Resources Department/Civil Servant Academy. In the University’s official event records, the programme was explicitly defined as “Training for All Staff” and was held at the Nazım TerzioÄŸlu Amphitheatre. Its place within the institutional human resources development programme was further confirmed when the academic who delivered the training later received a certificate of appreciation from the Rector for contributing to the development of the University’s human resources.
Another 2025 activity supporting the psychological and social wellbeing of University employees was the training entitled “Don’t Touch Me, I’m in a Bad Mood!”, organised for all staff on 10 April 2025. Delivered within the framework of the Civil Servant Academy, the programme addressed the concept and effects of morale, factors affecting morale in work groups, assessment of morale, and measures that can be taken to maintain high levels of employee morale. In the University’s official record, the programme was explicitly described as being “for all staff”, and all colleagues were invited to participate. This activity demonstrates that staff mental health support extends beyond individual counselling to include preventive dimensions of psychosocial wellbeing and employee morale in working life.
Evidence:
https://www.ktu.edu.tr/akademi/etkinlik/bana-dokunmayin-moralim-bozuk
Stress and burnout, among the most important work-related factors affecting staff mental health, were also directly incorporated into the University’s institutional training programme in 2025. On 11 December 2025, a training session entitled “Stress and Burnout in Working Life” was organised within the framework of the Civil Servant Academy/Talent Pool theoretical training programme and was announced by the University as being open to all staff. This training represents a preventive mental health intervention aimed at increasing awareness of chronic stress, psychological strain, and the risk of burnout that staff may encounter in professional life.
Evidence:
https://www.ktu.edu.tr/akademi/etkinlik/is-hayatinda-stres-ve-tukenmislik
This structure demonstrates that the University’s approach to staff mental health has two complementary dimensions. On the one hand, the Psychological Counselling and Guidance Unit provides staff with direct and free access to individual support, brief consultations, psychological assessment, and referral to professional healthcare services when necessary. On the other hand, the University delivers preventive and protective training programmes for all staff on topics such as mental health, employee morale, stress, and burnout. The University’s official Sustainability Portal also defines this approach institutionally as supporting the mental, emotional, and social wellbeing of both students and staff.
In conclusion, our University operated an institutional, free-of-charge, and multidimensional system providing staff with access to mental health support in 2025. Academic and administrative staff could apply free of charge to the Psychological Counselling and Guidance Unit within the Department of Health, Culture and Sports and, according to their needs, benefit from individual counselling, brief consultations, psychological assessment, and referral to more advanced specialist healthcare services. This direct support mechanism was complemented by preventive and protective training programmes delivered to all staff in 2025, including “Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Practices in Mental Health,” “Don’t Touch Me, I’m in a Bad Mood!” and “Stress and Burnout in Working Life.”
