Establishment and Operation of Age-Specific Emotional and Psychological Support Programs
For Children and Adolescents... Emotional and Behavioral Characteristics Assessment, Social Skills Enhancement, Emotional Support, etc.
For Youth... Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Meditation Therapy, High-Risk Mental Health Screening, etc.
Yongsan-gu, Seoul (Mayor Park Hee-young) has launched a mental health project tailored by age groups, from children and adolescents aged 8 to 19 to young adults under 39, running from last month through November this year to support their emotional and psychological well-being.
According to the Community Health Survey jointly conducted by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and local governments nationwide, the depression experience rate among Yongsan-gu residents in 2023 was 7%, a significant increase from 2.4% in 2020. Among children and adolescents, the use of services related to emotional issues such as depression is on the rise, following behavioral problems like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
The depression experience rate measures the number of respondents who reported feeling sadness or despair severe enough to interfere with daily life for two or more consecutive weeks within the past year. The 2023 average for Seoul is 8.4%, and Yongsan-gu ranks seventh lowest among the 25 autonomous districts.
In response, the district has prepared customized programs to help children, adolescents, and young adults overcome depression and feelings of isolation. The aim is to detect mental health issues early and manage them systematically to improve mental health in the community.
The programs target residents or those whose workplace or school is located in Yongsan-gu. The programs are divided into those for children and adolescents and those for young adults.
◆ Mental Health Project for Children and Adolescents
The mental health project for children and adolescents includes ▲Emotional and Behavioral Characteristics Assessment (20 participants) ▲Social Skills Enhancement Program (5 sessions) ▲Emotional Support Program (6 sessions) ▲Network Building for Related Agency Practitioners (6 meetings) ▲Mental Health Campaigns.
Students referred to the management group based on the emotional and behavioral assessment undergo diagnosis (screening) and parent counseling three times in total. Case management is provided if treatment registration is desired.
The Social Skills Enhancement Program involves 15 students from Cheongpa Elementary School. Through role-playing, it aims to help them express emotions, acquire communication skills, and improve conflict resolution abilities to address school maladjustment and peer relationship difficulties.
The Emotional Support Program targets all students at Sunrin Middle School. In collaboration with partner organizations, it identifies and supports emotionally vulnerable youth through play activities. The network for related agency practitioners consists of 22 organizations, including the district office and child and adolescent institutions, sharing projects and discussing cases.
◆ Mental Health Project for Young Adults
The young adult mental health project consists of ▲Psychological Support Programs ▲Strengthening Connections for Supporting Reclusive and Isolated Youth (4 meetings) ▲Screening for High-Risk Mental Health Cases among Youth (8 sessions).
The psychological support programs include three types: ▲Cognitive Behavioral Therapy ▲Meditation Therapy (Mindfulness) ▲Mind Classes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps participants understand negative automatic thoughts and cognitive distortions and aims to modify behaviors. Meditation Therapy teaches mood stabilization techniques. Both programs consist of four sessions each, with 12 young adults participating per session, conducted twice each. Mind Classes are lectures delivered by psychiatrists, focusing on youth mental health issues and solutions, planned twice this year.
The support connection meetings bring together practitioners from youth-related organizations and public institutions to hold discussions aimed at identifying and supporting reclusive and isolated youth. The high-risk mental health screening for youth involves conducting screening tests, evaluations, and counseling in local youth activity areas.
Park Hee-young, Mayor of Yongsan-gu, stated, “Unlike the past when the focus was on productivity improvement, as our society has advanced, mental health has recently become a key issue. We will do our best to operate programs that can be a strong support for residents when they are emotionally distressed.”
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