I returned to Palestine only a few months ago, carrying with me not just a degree from Türkiye, but years of memories, friendships, and a deep emotional connection to a country that became part of my identity. Istanbul was never just a place of study—it was a home, a story, a chapter of my life written with people I still hold close to my heart.

And then, I heard the news.

More than once.

Tragic school incidents shook Türkiye. Children—innocent, full of dreams—became victims of violence that words can hardly contain. Schools, which should represent safety and growth, were transformed into spaces of grief. Such events remind us that violence in educational settings is not only a local tragedy but a global public health concern affecting communities, families, and future generations (World Health Organization [WHO], 2015; WHO et al., 2020).

I cannot describe the weight of hearing such news from afar.

To my dear Turkish friends, colleagues, and teachers,
I extend my deepest condolences—not as an outsider, but as someone who once walked your streets, sat in your classrooms, and shared your everyday life. Your grief is not distant to me. It echoes here.

There is something profoundly painful about violence in schools. Schools are meant to be places where children build futures—not where futures are taken away. When such tragedies happen, they do not only wound families; they wound the soul of a nation.

And yet, in the midst of this sorrow, I find myself reflecting—not only as a human being, but also as a clinical pharmacist and a member of the global pharmaceutical community.

Because our role does not end at medicines.

As healthcare professionals, researchers, and educators, we are part of a broader system that touches mental health, behavioral awareness, and preventive care. Evidence shows that youth violence is influenced by complex interactions of psychological, social, and environmental risk factors (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2024; David-Ferdon et al., 2016; WHO, 2015).

This means we cannot remain silent observers.

But beyond reflection, there is also responsibility—and opportunity.

Why should we not stand alongside governmental institutions, policymakers, and educational leaders in Türkiye to support effective, positive, and evidence-based strategies to prevent violence?

Supporting national systems is not about criticism—it is about partnership.

As clinical pharmacists and members of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), we are uniquely positioned to contribute through global frameworks such as the FIP Development Goals (International Pharmaceutical Federation [FIP], 2020).

In particular:

• FIP Development Goal 5 (Competency Development) emphasizes preparing a workforce capable of addressing real-world health challenges, including mental and behavioral health.

• FIP Development Goal 19 (Patient Safety) reinforces the need for safe systems and environments—extending beyond hospitals to communities and schools.

Through these lenses, our role expands:

• Supporting mental health awareness and early intervention

• Contributing to policy-informed research and national dialogue

• Collaborating with educational and healthcare institutions

• Promoting safe, evidence-based medication use

• Engaging in community-level prevention strategies

This is not only a professional duty—it is a human one.

Today, I mourn with you.
Tomorrow, I stand with you—not only in grief, but in action, partnership, and hope.

To every child lost, every family grieving, and every heart broken in Türkiye—your pain is seen, your loss is honored, and your memory will not fade.

And to my Turkish friends:
You are not alone.

With deepest respect and solidarity,

Maram Abdel Nasser Taha Shtaya
Clinical Pharmacist | American Studies Instructor | Author | Researcher
Independent Scholar and Udemy Instructor

References:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). About youth violence.
https://www.cdc.gov/youth-violence/about/index.html

David-Ferdon, C., Vivolo-Kantor, A. M., Dahlberg, L. L., Marshall, K. J., Rainford, N., & Hall, J. E. (2016).
A comprehensive technical package for the prevention of youth violence and associated risk behaviors.
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/43085

International Pharmaceutical Federation. (2020). FIP development goals: Transforming global pharmacy.
https://www.fip.org/file/4793

World Health Organization. (2015). Preventing youth violence: An overview of the evidence.
https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/preventing-youth-violence-an-overview-of-the-evidence

World Health Organization, United Nations Children’s Fund, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children, & Global Partnership to End Violence against Children. (2020). Global status report on preventing violence against children 2020.
https://www.who.int/teams/social-determinants-of-health/violence-prevention/global-status-report-on-violence-against-children-2020