Psychosocial intervention after the return of social workers to their duty stations following the february 6 earthquakes

When the disasters experienced in Türkiye are examined, the earthquakes centred on Kahramanmaraş on 6 February 2023 emerge as the most devastating in the nation's history. Professionals from many disciplines took part in providing psychosocial support to survivors, and social workers were among them. Like other staff deployed to the disaster zone, social workers encountered a range of difficulties during the delivery of psychosocial services. This thesis therefore explores the changes experienced by social workers who, after being assigned to the area affected by the earthquake to provide psychosocial support, returned to their home posts, as well as the psychosocial support needs that subsequently arose. Specifically, the study aims to identify how social workers based in Hakkari, who were temporarily deployed to Adıyaman, were affected in their social lives, professional relationships, mood, and personality upon their return, and to determine the extent of their ensuing need for psychosocial assistance. A qualitative research design was employed. Semi structured interviews were conducted with 23 social workers, using six open ended questions to probe their experiences and perceptions of the importance and necessity of psychosocial support services. The findings reveal that, after returning from their assignments, participants struggled in their relationships with their social circles, experienced adaptation problems, and in some cases exhibited tendencies toward social withdrawal. They also faced challenges readjusting to their institutions and reported gaps in their disaster related knowledge. Moreover, the social workers, who were confronted with the possibility that they themselves might experience a similar earthquake, had to face fears of death and of losing loved ones.