Jinju City Provides COVID-19 Depression, Anxiety, and Psychological Support Services

Psychological Counseling and Counseling Fee Support for High-Risk Groups Related to Mental Health

Jinju City Mental Health Welfare Center (Photo by Jinju City)

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Soon-kyung] Jinju City, Gyeongnam Province, announced on the 24th that it will continue to provide psychological support such as telephone counseling this year as well, following last year, for citizens experiencing psychological difficulties such as depression, anxiety, and stress due to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

According to Jinju City, when an infectious disease spreads, people feel fear and anxiety about the illness, which causes various levels of stress. Concerns about health increase, and people may become overly cautious or suspicious of those around them.

In particular, when an infectious disease prolongs, maintaining a high level of tension for a long time consumes a lot of energy, and as outdoor activities decrease, people may experience depression, lethargy, and feelings of being down.

To alleviate psychological anxiety caused by COVID-19, last year the city provided telephone and text message support for those in self-quarantine, psychological support campaigns for COVID-19 workers, psychological counseling and counseling fee support for high-risk groups related to mental health, and psychological support programs for children at local community centers.

Additionally, psychological scale tests were conducted for about 500 supermarket employees, and various promotions and non-face-to-face education related to psychological support were carried out through public transportation and broadcasting.

A Jinju City Public Health Center official stated, “This year as well, we will actively respond to help citizens overcome depression, anxiety, and stress by providing coloring books and encouragement letters from the mayor to those in self-quarantine to aid psychological stability,” and urged, “Please utilize the ‘Mental Health Self-Check’ program, which allows individuals to assess their current mental state.”