Chonnam National University Hospital Hosts International Symposium on "Prolonged COVID-19 Infection and Mental Health"

July 8 Presentations by London School of Economics, Canada Schulich School of Medicine, and New York Psychoanalytic Counselors

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] As COVID-19 has persisted for more than three years, various mental health issues such as COVID blues have emerged, but measures to address them remain insufficient. In response, Chonnam National University Hospital will hold an international symposium on the theme of ‘COVID-19 and Mental Health’ to devise various solutions.

Chonnam National University Hospital announced on the 27th that it will hold an international symposium titled ‘Prolonged COVID-19 Infection and Mental Health’ from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM on the 8th of next month at Deokjae Hall, Chonnam Medical School, Hakdong, Dong-gu.

This symposium plans to present the impact of prolonged COVID-19 infection on various sectors of society and propose solutions to address these issues.

Experts from diverse fields, including the National Medical Center in Seoul, the London School of Economics and Political Science in the UK, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at Western University in Canada, and psychoanalytic counselors from New York, USA, will be invited to share opinions on mental health as well as socioeconomic problems.

In Part 1 of the symposium, under the theme ‘COVID Infection and Mental Health Crisis,’ topics such as suicide, mental health management, and new digital therapeutics for recovery will be introduced.

In particular, Professor Yoo Seung-hyung of the Department of Psychiatry at Chonnam National University Hospital will present on ‘COVID-19 and Suicide,’ along with Professor Kim Seong-wan on ‘Mental Health Management in the COVID-19 Era,’ Professor Kim Joo-wan on ‘Digital Therapeutics as a New Approach for Mental Health during the Pandemic,’ and Professor Park Ara from the London School of Economics and Political Science on ‘Economic Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Mental Health.’

Part 2 will feature special lectures including Dr. Kwon Hye-kyung, a psychoanalytic counselor practicing in New York, USA, on ‘Clinical Significance of Polyvagal Theory in the COVID Era,’ and Professor Lee Jae-heon from Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at Western University, Canada, on ‘Canada’s Mental Health Care System.’

Part 3 will cover topics related to considerations in clinical practice for treating COVID-infected patients and healthcare workers, presented by Professor Park Kyung-hwa of Infectious Diseases at Chonnam National University Hospital, Professor Lee So-hee of Psychiatry at the National Medical Center in Seoul, and Professor Kim Sun-young of Psychiatry at Chonnam National University Hospital, who have extensive experience in treating COVID patients.

Professor Kim Seong-wan, who prepared this symposium, said, “The Department of Psychiatry at Chonnam National University Hospital has contributed to evidence-based measures by publishing more than 16 papers on mental health topics since the spread of COVID-19,” adding, “Especially at this symposium, as renowned domestic and international scholars present the impact of COVID-19 on various sectors of society and solutions to address them, I hope it will be an opportunity to exchange diverse opinions.”