Hande is a Psychiatrist in clinical private practice; art therapist and psychodramatist. She held clinical positions in hospitals; served as Director of Mental Health Center at Turkish Security Forces; led treatment of asylum-seekers for UNHCR. She served as Director of French La Paix Hospital and taught psychological trauma at post-graduate level at Başkent University Department of Social Sciences.
Read MoreShe is involved with psychological trauma for more than 20 years now; since she worked voluntarily as search&rescuer, interpreter and MHPSS in the post-impact phase of the Marmara Earthquake (Turkey; 1999). This led to her commitment as coordinator of the psychological trauma and disaster psychiatry unit of the Psychiatric Association of Turkey. She participated in both the planning and implementation of several psychosocial interventions related to natural- and man-made disasters in Turkey and abroad. She worked with IOM and is currently leading conferences/workshops for the provision of psychosocial support to expat organisations (Embassies, EU, etc.) after the terror attacks and failed coup that impacted Turkey in 2016. She has been presenting and chairing in different scientific settings, has acted as Board member in several NGOs; has co-authored a number of publications. She is ISHHR Board Member since 2018; Secretary General since 2017.