Examination of levels of depression and hopelessness in individuals who receive social assistance

The aim of this research is to analyze the level of depression and hopelessness of the individuals receiving social assistance. Research, in accordance with its purpose has been carried out in over 140 randomly selected people living in Beyoglu, 68 of these people are receiving social support, 72 of them are not receiving any social assistance at all. In the research personal information form, Beck Hopelessness Scale and Beck Depression Inventory have been used. Our research study consists of 3 parts that are based on depression and hopelessness levels of the individuals receiving social support. In the first part, our study contains social welfare and its history in the world and in Turkey, also it contains the social welfare activities and the necessary literatur researches organised by Beyoglu municipality. In the second part of the study, definition of depression, depression disorders mentioned in DSM-5TM, studies on depression and treatment methods and finally with the concept of hopelessness have been discussed. The third and the last part of the study consists of the analysis on depression and hopelessness of the individuals receiving social support and the results of researches conducted in Beyoglu District. In this part, the level of depression and hopelessness of the individuals receiving social assistance has been compared with the ones that are not receiving any social support, social-economic conditions of the individuals participated in researches have been considered with their depression and hopelessness levels and the results have been explained with charts and comments. KeyWords : Depression, Social, Hopelessness,