Ongoing Applied Projects at ITG

In 2017, the Institute for Psychotherapy and Psychotraumatology began offering degree programs in the northern Iraqi city of Dohuk. Since then, therapists have been trained there as part of a newly designed master’s program. The training also includes a “train-the-trainer” program. In the long term, the goal is to ensure comprehensive care for traumatized refugees in clinics and care facilities throughout Iraq by providing advanced training to professionals in the country.

Contacts: Prof. Dr. Dr. Jan Ilhan Kizilhan, Florian Steger

Life in the refugee camps, the uncertain future, and economic and social problems exacerbate psychological distress, which is why some people—tragically, an unusually high number of young people—take their own lives. In the absence of early intervention, suicidal tendencies can escalate into a serious crisis. Urgent action was needed here.

Against this backdrop, a hotline (Lifeline) modeled after the German telephone counseling service has been established at the University of Duhok for one year, affiliated with the Institute for Psychotherapy and Psychotraumatology (IPP) and its outpatient clinic (IPP – German Clinic for Psychotherapy). With the support of the Schwäbische Zeitung and in cooperation with the Health Directorate and the heads of the refugee camps, a team has been assembled that offers those in need the opportunity to find help anonymously, around the clock.

Trained psychotherapists who have completed a master’s program at the Institute for Psychotherapy and Psychotraumatology at the University of Duhok (directed by Prof. Kizilhan) help people in crisis situations cope with suicidal thoughts or connect them with immediate inpatient or outpatient support.

Contacts: Claudia Klett, Prof. Dr. Dr. Jan Ilhan Kizilhan

The STEP project aligns with the Erasmus+ priority “Building inclusive higher education systems and promoting inclusion.” The project is being implemented by institutions from Finland, Germany, Austria, Croatia, and Ukraine. In light of ongoing global crises and wars, European higher education institutions are increasingly admitting students who have experienced displacement, violence, or loss. Many of these young people are living with the consequences of traumatic experiences that affect their learning, social integration, and mental well-being.

Faculty members face the challenge of meeting these students’ needs, often without sufficient knowledge of the dynamics of trauma and its impact on learning processes. A lack of trauma-sensitive skills can lead to teaching and learning situations that unconsciously have a retraumatizing effect or cause students to become further isolated. This is where the STEP project comes in.

The goal is to empower faculty and higher education institutions to create trauma-sensitive structures that promote safety, trust, and a sense of belonging. To this end, the project brings together several international trauma experts from various disciplines in the fields of mental health and trauma. Based on current research and empirical studies, a trauma-sensitive curricular framework for higher education is being developed. These include a curriculum, a practical guide, and freely available materials.

 

Key activities include:

• Train-the-trainer programs that promote teachers’ subject expertise and self-reflection,
• knowledge dissemination via a digital platform, webinars, and an international closing conference,

• the integration of trauma-informed approaches into higher education policy and educational strategy programs.

   

In the long term, the project contributes to embedding psychological safety and inclusion in higher education institutions. Students with experiences of displacement or migration should not only be supported academically but also empowered in terms of their mental well-being. This fosters an understanding of diversity as a resource and takes the human experience of vulnerability seriously. A lasting impact is ensured by embedding trauma-sensitive approaches in education policy and in teacher training programs.

In Syria, various ethno-religious groups have experienced deep-rooted historical marginalization that predates the ongoing conflict since 2011. While some of these communities have suffered systematic persecution for centuries, the recent conflict has exacerbated their suffering, leading to hundreds of thousands of deaths, the forced displacement of millions of people, and other serious forms of violence and human rights violations, including torture, arbitrary detention, and enforced disappearance. The psychological impact of the conflict is evident from the high prevalence of PTSD and other trauma-related disorders in the population. 

Alongside direct exposure to violence, many communities have experienced repeated cycles of displacement, persecution and collective trauma over generations. Therefore, a nuanced analysis of the various ethnic and religious groups is particularly important, as each community has experienced specific forms of marginalization and violence.

Despite growing international attention to mental health in conflict settings, relatively little research has explored the long-term and transgenerational consequences of trauma across Syria's diverse communities. Healing the Past addresses this gap through collaborative research and dialogue with local partners.

Healing the Past is a two-year research and capacity-building project funded by the German Federal Foreign Office. The project aims to better understand how experiences of war, violence and historical trauma continue to affect individuals, families and communities across generations in Syria. Based on this knowledge, the project seeks to: 

• Improve understanding of transgenerational trauma and its impact on different Syrian communities.
• Identify culturally meaningful resources that promote resilience and recovery.
• Develop practical, culturally sensitive recommendations for psychosocial and mental health professionals.
• Strengthen collaboration and dialogue between researchers, practitioners, and community representatives.

Healing the Past is implemented in close cooperation with local mental health professionals, researchers and partner organizations in Syria and neighboring regions. The project emphasizes participatory collaboration to ensure that findings are relevant, culturally appropriate, and sustainable.