Operation of 'Dobong Healing School' and 'Youth Forest' to Prevent Social Isolation by Age Group... Dobong Hope Vaccine 23, Early Prevention of Problematic Behaviors through Self-Help Groups for Mentally Crisis Hidden Individuals
Recently, most suspects involved in ‘abnormal motive crimes’ that have caused public anxiety, such as the stabbing incident at Seohyeon Station and the assault case in Sillim-dong, have been identified as ‘eundunhyeong oeltori’ (reclusive loners).
The term eundunhyeong oeltori refers to individuals who have secluded themselves at home, typically maintaining a reclusive lifestyle for more than six months. Years of isolation lead to anxiety and dissatisfaction with society, which in turn results in criminal behavior.
To prevent such crimes, the local community agrees on the need for proactive support and management plans for these individuals.
On August 3rd, a mental health social worker in Dobong-gu, along with police, fire department, and community center staff, facilitated the hospitalization of a mental health crisis case manager.
Case manager A has been under case management in Dobong-gu for the past 2-3 years due to schizophrenia. When first meeting A, care was lacking from a busy father who was the primary breadwinner, and A had difficulty managing medication independently. Additionally, A exhibited violent tendencies, necessitating prompt inpatient treatment. However, due to the subject’s strong refusal, hospitalization in a psychiatric ward was not possible.
Instead of hospitalization, the district designated A as a case management target and proceeded with management. A mental health social worker was assigned as A’s dedicated manager to provide treatment within the community. Through sincere communication, a deep trust was established between the social worker and A, leading the social worker to expand treatment efforts. The district enrolled A in ‘Dobong Hope Vaccine 23,’ a program encouraging self-management of situations through stress coping methods, and facilitated self-help groups with individuals facing similar challenges. Ultimately, A recognized their situation and decided to be admitted to a psychiatric ward to reintegrate into society.
Dobong-gu (Mayor Oh Eon-seok) is the first among Seoul’s 25 autonomous districts to assign mental health social workers within the welfare department to exclusively manage mental health crisis case management targets.
The district operates ‘Dobong Hope Vaccine 23,’ where mental health social workers provide stress management education and social rehabilitation training to prevent self-harm and harm to others. Self-help groups are also conducted to foster bonds and improve social skills among participants.
In cases where the subject exhibits severe violent tendencies or when neighbors or family members report concerns, social workers intervene immediately and, depending on the situation, coordinate hospitalization to protect both the individual and the community.
Beyond managing reclusive individuals with severe mental health issues, the district is working to eliminate negative perceptions of reclusive households and help these individuals adapt to society by establishing tailored support systems based on age and mental health crisis status.
A representative example is the ‘Dobong Healing School.’ Targeting middle-aged and older adults with reclusive tendencies, this program promotes social reintegration through activities such as ‘Shopping Together’ and ‘Cooking Class with Companions,’ where participants learn daily living skills alongside integrated case managers.
A district official stated, “Providing positive experiences of outdoor activities to the subjects reduces their fear of forming social relationships and enhances their sense of self-achievement.”
For young people who chose seclusion and isolation due to difficulties in employment and leisure during the COVID-19 period, various programs are also in operation. ‘Youth EX-I-T’ helps youth acquire social skills and achieve social independence through activities that spark their interest, while ‘Youth Forest’ supports young people in taking a step toward society by watching the movie ‘Little Forest’ and engaging in cooking and sharing activities on themes such as ‘rest’ and ‘emotions’ with group members.
Oh Eon-seok, Mayor of Dobong-gu, said, “It is crucial to proactively manage and support socially isolated households with reclusive tendencies to prevent incidents. In addition to the ongoing various reclusive support and management programs, the district plans to develop and implement multifaceted management measures to enable eundunhyeong oeltori to live as healthy members of society.”
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