“YEDAM provides free psychological and social support to addicted individuals and their relatives”
Stating that the Green Crescent Counseling Center (YEDAM) provides free psychological and social support services to addicted individuals and their relatives, Green Crescent Tunceli Branch President Ali Ekber Küçük said that there are 107 YEDAMs in total.
Ali Ekber Küçük, who gave information about the Green Crescent Counseling Center (YEDAM), gave information about YEDAM. Küçük said, “YEDAM was opened in 2021 in our province. The first steps of YEDAM were taken in 2015. Its team of psychologists and social workers, all of whom are experts in the field of addiction, provide free psychological and social support services to addicted individuals and their relatives. There are a total of 107 YEDAMs across Turkey and in the TRNC. It evaluates the type of addiction of the clients and determines the degree of addiction. It provides free psychological and social support to people who have problems with alcohol, tobacco, drugs, gambling and the internet, and helps them to regain their lives. It teaches methods to prevent the purified individual from starting harmful habits again, visits the clients in their homes and follows the progress.”
Reminding that confidentiality is of utmost importance in the services, Küçük said, “We attach great importance to the principle of confidentiality and the information obtained during the interviews is never shared with other persons or institutions. They can also be reached free of charge via the 115 YEDAM Hotline anywhere in Turkey. 115 YEDAM Hotline has received over 1 million calls since its establishment. Between 2015 and September 9, 2024, 1 million 234 thousand 228 people called YEDAM's hotline. The number of interviews is 328 thousand 649, the number of social support services is 130 thousand 97, the number of social activities is 4 thousand 411 and the number of participants in YEDAM Workshop is 4 thousand 307.”
Küçük said, “The book ‘Those Who Regain Their Colors’ was prepared to encourage and inspire those who want to get rid of their addictions. The book, which was inspired by the flower sent by the mother of an addict receiving treatment at YEDAM with the note 'Thank you for helping my son regain the colors of life', includes the fictionalized stories of the clients who applied to YEDAM and got rid of the deadlock of addiction.”
