Democratic Backsliding Weighs on Mental Health in Türkiye, İPM Study Finds
mental health
A new study by the Istanbul Policy Center (İPM) finds a clear link between democratic decline and worsening psychological well-being in Türkiye, with rising anxiety, falling trust, and growing social fragility.
Authoritarian Shift Linked to Declining Well-Being
A new report by the Istanbul Policy Center (İPM) suggests that Türkiye’s ongoing democratic backsliding is having a measurable negative impact on mental health and overall psychological well-being.
The study highlights a parallel trajectory between increasing authoritarianism and declining levels of happiness, trust, and emotional stability across society.
Worsening Mental Health Indicators
According to the report, key indicators point to a broad deterioration in psychological health:
- Rising prevalence of depression and anxiety
- Sharp increase in antidepressant use over the past decade
- Nearly half of the population reporting low levels of psychological well-being
Researchers argue that these trends are not temporary fluctuations but reflect deeper structural pressures within society.
Trust and Social Cohesion Eroding
The study also finds a significant erosion of trust—one of the key pillars of psychological well-being.
Generalized trust levels in Türkiye are among the lowest globally, while even trust within families has declined in recent years. This weakening of social bonds is seen as a major contributor to growing emotional stress and insecurity.
Economic and Social Pressures Add to the Strain
The report points to several structural factors amplifying the decline in well-being:
- High youth unemployment and rising inequality
- Increasing cost-of-living pressures
- Limited opportunities for social mobility
These pressures are particularly pronounced among younger and lower-income groups, widening disparities in psychological well-being across society.
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A “Low-Wellbeing Equilibrium”
İPM describes Türkiye’s current condition as a “low-wellbeing equilibrium,” where dissatisfaction has become normalized.
Rather than translating into collective action or institutional reform, this dissatisfaction is increasingly internalized or expressed through individual coping strategies, including migration aspirations.
Broader Implications
The findings suggest that mental health is emerging not only as a public health issue but also as a key indicator of broader social and political dynamics.
The report calls for systematic monitoring of psychological well-being and evidence-based policymaking to address the underlying causes of social fragility.
Conclusion
The İPM study underscores a growing consensus: political and institutional conditions are closely intertwined with societal well-being.
As democratic indicators weaken, the impact is increasingly visible not only in governance metrics but also in the everyday psychological state of the population.
Source and Disclosure
Source: Istanbul Policy Center (İPM)
Editor: WS37 News Desk
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