Gangdong-gu, Support for Psychiatric Treatment Costs (250,000 KRW per Person) to Establish a Mental Safety Net

Additional Budget Secured for Psychiatric Treatment Support and Expansion of Support Personnel... Up to 250,000 KRW per Person for Psychiatric Treatment, Comprehensive Psychological Testing, and Counseling Therapy Costs Supported

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Gangdong-gu (Mayor Lee Jeong-hoon) has seen an increase in users of the psychiatric treatment support program ‘Saengmyeong Jonjung Doodream’ (Life Respect Knock Dream), which led to the program’s early closure in the first half of the year. On the 16th, the district secured additional budget and decided to expand the number of beneficiaries.

‘Saengmyeong Jonjung Doodream,’ a specialized program unique to Gangdong-gu, provides vouchers for psychiatric medical expenses to residents who usually experience depression or have a high risk of suicide but hold negative perceptions about psychiatric treatment or feel economic burdens. The program aims to reduce economic and psychological burdens and offer opportunities for recovery.

Eligible applicants are Gangdong-gu residents with a monthly average household income at or below 150% of the median income who have no prior psychiatric treatment experience or have discontinued psychiatric treatment for over a year, or those at high risk of suicide. If the Gangdong-gu Mental Health Welfare Center assesses during an initial face-to-face evaluation that psychiatric treatment is necessary, applicants can apply for treatment cost support through the center.

Supported items include psychiatric treatment fees, comprehensive psychological testing, and counseling treatment costs, with a maximum support of up to 250,000 KRW per person.

Additionally, high-risk suicide groups with a monthly average household income at or below 150% can receive support upon consenting to services at the Gangdong-gu Mental Health Welfare Center, including ▲ outpatient treatment fees for high-risk suicide groups (up to 300,000 KRW per person, until funds are exhausted) ▲ inpatient treatment fees (up to 500,000 KRW per person, for up to 3 months) ▲ emergency treatment fees (up to 500,000 KRW per case, income criteria not applied).

The application period is until December 31 of this year, but the program may close early if the budget is exhausted.

Lee Jeong-hoon, Mayor of Gangdong-gu, stated, “With the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic deepening emotional isolation, the number of people experiencing mental difficulties is increasing. Through this program, we will continuously support reducing the economic burden on those with mental illnesses and high suicide risk to ensure early treatment and consistent management.”