From July, 1:1 In-Person Psychological Counseling Voucher for Citizens with Emotional Difficulties
Up to 640,000 KRW in Tiered Service Support, Convenient Choice of Service Providers and Application
Starting in July, Busan City will implement the "National Mind Investment Support Project," which provides professional psychological counseling services to citizens experiencing emotional difficulties such as depression and anxiety.
This project is one of the key initiatives of the "Mental Health System Innovation Plan" announced by the government in December last year.
The project aims to establish a daily mental care system to prevent mild mental illnesses from worsening into severe mental disorders or leading to extreme choices.
Through this project, citizens experiencing emotional difficulties such as depression and anxiety can receive a voucher for a total of eight one-on-one (1:1) in-person psychological counseling sessions (minimum 50 minutes per session) over 120 days at private psychological counseling institutions.
Eligible applicants include those recognized as needing psychological counseling by mental health welfare centers, youth counseling welfare centers, Wee Centers/Wee Classes (elementary, middle, and high schools), university counseling centers, and psychiatric medical institutions, as well as those who are found to have moderate or higher levels of depression in the mental health examination of the national health checkup.
Applicants can visit the administrative welfare center at their registered address with the required documents to apply.
The service cost, up to 640,000 KRW, will be subsidized in full or in part depending on income level, and applicants can choose any service provider that is convenient for them, regardless of their place of residence.
Since the 3rd of this month, the city has been continuously recruiting psychological counseling service providers through 16 district health centers. Institutions that meet the facility and staffing criteria can apply at any time.
Institutions wishing to register as psychological counseling service providers must meet the facility and staffing requirements, ensure that service personnel complete relevant training, and have the head of the institution apply in person at the local health center.
Detailed information on required documents can be found on the websites of the city and the local health centers.
Lee Sora, Director of the Citizens’ Health Bureau, stated, “We will thoroughly prepare to ensure the stable implementation of the 'National Mind Investment Support Project,' which will be launched for the first time in July this year,” and added, “Through this project, we will strengthen preventive mental health services and actively contribute to improving citizens’ mental well-being.”
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
