In 2025, METU gave its students free access to psychological counselling and psychiatric care and actively promoted good mental health.

Free counselling and care

• The Psychological Counselling and Guidance Centre (PDRM) of the METU Health and Guidance Centre offers counselling and psychiatric-psychological treatment free of charge to all METU students: confidential individual counselling, group counselling in groups of 8–15 members, and psychiatric care. PDRM serves students only; in 2025 it received 2,433 student applications for counselling and treatment. Students can also see the Centre's psychiatrist, whose service handled 1,935 applications from students and staff in 2025.

• AYNA Listening Point, run by the Department of Psychology's clinical psychologists, takes calls from students in crisis on weekdays from 08:00 to 23:00 and refers them to the right support.

Active promotion of good mental health

Preventive workshops and seminars: PDRM psychologists run 1–2 hour sessions for groups of about 20 students on coping with stress, procrastination, self-confidence, assertiveness, perfectionism, problem-solving, communication and conflict resolution, and ways of coping with depression; announcements are e-mailed to all students. Sessions in 2025 included:

• Academic Procrastination Support Groups: four six-week groups—in spring 2025 for 8 undergraduate and 6 graduate students, and in fall 2025 for 7 undergraduate and 5 graduate students (26 students in total).

• 'Hello to the Semester' talks, 8–10 October 2025: 'Ways to help yourself in stressful times' (14 participants), 'Protecting academic well-being' (21) and 'How can I support my friend?' (8) – 43 participants in total (METU PDRM, 2025 activity data).

• 'Look After Yourself! A Dozen Suggestions' (Kendine İyi Bak!): a self-care campaign poster by PDRM, featured on the homepage of the Health and Guidance Centre throughout 2025, gives students twelve practical steps for days when they feel anxious or overwhelmed – sleep, water and food, a calming breathing exercise, grounding, noticing thoughts and feelings, self-kindness, helping others and talking to someone who understands them.

• Self-help resources: PDRM publishes 16 free leaflets (e.g. coping with exam anxiety, stress and procrastination, recognising the signs of psychological disorders) and a list of free resources, including open video seminars on psychological flexibility available on METU OpenCourseWare.

• Orientation for new students on the services of the Health and Guidance Centre at the start of the 2025–2026 academic year (September 2025).

• Regular yoga workshops in the spring and fall semesters through the METU Sports Directorate to help students manage stress.

• METU Yoga Society: free weekly yoga sessions for all METU members on the lawn of the Culture and Convention Centre throughout the spring semester of 2025 (starting with an introductory session on 16 March), and summer sessions with a guest instructor on 9 August and 6 September 2025, focusing on breathing, mind–body awareness, and relaxation.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DJ7O6sZqPxu/?hl=en

https://srm.metu.edu.tr/en/workshops-and-seminars

https://srm.metu.edu.tr/en/news/2025-annual-srm-activity-report

https://ayna.metu.edu.tr/en/kesif-gunleri

https://ayna.metu.edu.tr/en/ayna-forum

Additional services

• The AYNA Clinical Psychology Support Unit offers psychological assessment and psychotherapy to METU members at reduced fees.