Starting July, Seoul National University Hospital Medical Staff to Provide Psychological Services to Abused Children
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Seoul City announced on the 29th that starting from the 1st of next month, it will implement the ‘Specialized Psychological Treatment Support Project for Abused Children’ in collaboration with hospitals to assist children who are experiencing mental and psychological difficulties due to abuse.
Seoul National University Hospital, designated as a cooperative partner by Seoul City, serves as the ‘Seoul Metropolitan Medical Center,’ overseeing eight specialized medical institutions dedicated to child abuse cases that provide 24-hour rapid medical response to abused children. The hospital has extensive experience in medical support for abused children.
According to the status of child abuse in Seoul, the number of reports reached 6,262, a 43% increase compared to 4,369 cases in 2020. Among these, 3,421 cases were confirmed as child abuse, and 446 cases (13%) were repeated abuse.
More than 40% of abused children exhibit psychological instability. In particular, the incidence of emotional and behavioral disorders such as ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) among children in care facilities has significantly increased from 171 in 2019 to 267 in 2021, exacerbating the challenges in caring for abused children.
Until now, child protection agencies and care facilities have continuously provided treatment support services for abused children. However, for children requiring psychiatric treatment, it has been difficult to resolve internally, leading to support through linkage with private psychological institutions.
Additionally, therapists assigned one per institution find it difficult to manage the increasing number of abused children and face challenges in providing specialized treatment.
To address and support these field difficulties and to eradicate child abuse within facilities, Seoul City has formed a team at Seoul National University Hospital consisting of pediatric psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, and mental health social workers to develop customized treatment plans for abused children and their families and to conduct follow-up management.
The target children are primarily those under case management by child protection agencies or those admitted to child care facilities who require psychiatric treatment. Customized treatment will be provided after internal case reviews. The planned number of beneficiaries is 120 (expected).
Meanwhile, Seoul City plans to hold an explanatory meeting and seminar on the specialized psychological treatment support project for abused children for related workers in July to ensure the stable establishment of the psychological treatment support project.
Kim Seon-soon, Director of the Women and Family Policy Office of Seoul City, stated, “As Seoul City partners with Seoul National University Hospital for the first time to support abused children, we will meticulously carry out treatment plans and follow-up management for the children and their families to prevent recurrence of abuse and do our best to ensure the children fully recover.”
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