Following three drone and missile attacks on the town of Koya, home to one of the larger public universities, many residents and university students were experiencing psychological distress, trauma, and anxiety. The attacks happened three times on the following dates: First attack (28-Sep-22); Second attack (14-Nov-2022); Third attack (21-Nov-2022). In response, we launched a Psychosocial Support Initiative to provide accessible mental health resources to those affected.
To achieve this, Dyari S. Hama amin, who proposed and led the project, selected a team of undergraduate students from the Clinical Psychology Department at Koya University to assist in translating three NHS self-help guides into Kurdish. These guides covered:
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) – Understanding trauma and coping strategies
Anxiety – Recognizing anxiety symptoms and self-help techniques
Panic – Managing panic attacks and reducing their impact
Once translated, the guides were reviewed by a professional editor to ensure language accuracy and cultural relevance. This activity helped make evidence-based psychological support available to Kurdish-speaking communities. The following students participated in this project: Prusha Faraj, Vania Amanj, Shahen Ahmad, Yad Wali, Bahar Mohammad, and Sara Nawzad.
Project duration: December 1, 2022 – June 15, 2023
Impact: Provided scientifically backed self-help resources in Kurdish
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