Yongsan-gu Launches Full-Scale Operation of Psychological Healing Program 'Maeumgongbang'

Increasing Trend in Stress Awareness and Depression Experience Rates in Yongsan-gu Since 2019
Group Psychological Healing Programs Operated from This Month to Prevent Stress and Depression
Understanding Psychology and Forming Positive Mindset through Craft Making and Color Psychology Analysis

“Busy, busy, modern society”

Working adults living in a busy society 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and students spending time at academies late into the night suffer from various stresses every day. There is an urgent need for ways to overcome stress.

Yongsan-gu, Seoul (District Mayor Park Hee-young) will officially operate a group psychological healing program called ‘Mind Workshop (Time to Refine My Mind)’ targeting youth and young adults starting this month.

According to recent data from Statistics Korea, the stress recognition rate and feelings of depression in Yongsan-gu in 2023 are higher compared to 2019. Furthermore, mental health indicators are deteriorating, but the utilization rate of services to recover from this remains low.

※ Yongsan-gu Stress Recognition Rate and Depression Statistics (Source: Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency website)

- 2019: Stress (14.8%), Depression (2.1%) / 2023: Stress (22.5%), Depression (7%)

In particular, subtle stress that accumulates unknowingly in daily life can suddenly lead to serious illnesses.

Accordingly, the district plans to provide psychological healing programs to cope with stress and boost self-esteem. Through time spent facing one’s inner self, participants can reflect on themselves, achieve emotional ventilation, relieve stress and depression, and regain mental health.

The program consists of four sessions: ▲ Positive psychology lectures and mood lamp making ▲ Landscape Composition Therapy (LMT) test and mist making ▲ Human relationship lectures and tissue case making ▲ Color psychology analysis and diffuser making.

Along with professional psychological counselors and color psychology analysts, the program helps participants not only create crafts but also understand each other’s psychology through color psychology analysis and share positive thinking.

The district expanded the program this year after a pilot operation last year. The program will be held four times in total, twice in the first half and twice in the second half of the year. Participants include not only Yongsan-gu residents but also local workers and university students. The venue is the Health Education Room on the basement first floor of the Yongsan-gu Public Health Center.

Park Hee-young, Mayor of Yongsan-gu, said, “Many residents may feel exhausted and depressed in modern society,” adding, “We will continue to specialize in mental health programs that can comfort the minds of our residents.”