President's Direct 'Mental Health Policy Innovation Committee' Launched
"A Nation Cannot Fulfill Its Role Without the Happiness of Its People"
President Yoon Suk-yeol is making closing remarks at the '1st Meeting of the Mental Health Policy Innovation Committee' held on the 26th at the National Center for Mental Health, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]
On the 26th, President Yoon Suk-yeol, marking the launch of the presidential 'Mental Health Policy Innovation Committee,' announced, "Starting in July, we will begin the 'National Mind Investment Project,' enabling citizens experiencing depression and anxiety to receive psychological counseling from experts, and during my term, we will provide psychological counseling service packages to a total of one million people." He also emphasized, "The government will spare no support to achieve a major transformation in mental health policy."
The aim is for the nation to shed the stigma of having the highest suicide rate among OECD member countries and to establish and directly manage national mental health policies focused on 'prevention, treatment, and recovery,' so that all citizens can experience happiness in their daily lives.
That morning, President Yoon presided over the first meeting of the 'Mental Health Policy Innovation Committee' at the National Mental Health Center in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, stating, "It is important to detect and prevent early so that everyday depression and anxiety do not develop into mental illnesses."
The Mental Health Policy Innovation Committee was promised by President Yoon at the 'Mental Health Policy Vision Declaration Conference' in December last year. This is the first time in history that a presidential-level committee has been launched in the mental health field.
Youth Mental Health Screening Interval Reduced from 10 Years to 2 Years
President Yoon Suk-yeol is taking a commemorative photo with Innovation Committee members, including Minister of Health and Welfare Cho Kyu-hong (fifth from the right in the front row) and Shin Young-chul, professor of psychiatry at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital and chair of the Mental Health Policy Innovation Committee (fifth from the left in the front row), ahead of the first meeting of the Mental Health Policy Innovation Committee held on the 26th at the National Center for Mental Health, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Before the meeting began, President Yoon personally presented appointment letters to the private members of the newly launched Mental Health Policy Innovation Committee, including Chairman Shin Young-chul (Professor of Psychiatry at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital), Kang Sang-kyung (Professor of Social Welfare at Seoul National University), and Ko Ha-young (mental illness patient and YouTuber).
In his opening remarks, President Yoon pointed out, "Even if we have risen to become a top 10 global economy and a global cultural powerhouse, if each citizen is not happy, the nation is not fulfilling its role properly." He explained that the government has established mental health policies in the three directions of 'prevention, treatment, and recovery' by gathering opinions from policy stakeholders and experts across medical, psychological, counseling, and welfare fields.
President Yoon announced, "Starting January next year, we will improve the mental health screening for youth, which currently occurs every 10 years, to be conducted every 2 years." He also shared that since consolidating various suicide prevention hotline numbers into '109' in January this year, usage has increased by 70%, adding, "We will strengthen counseling personnel and establish a second center next year to develop 109 as the representative counseling window."
He also presented measures to ensure smooth mental emergency response and treatment. First, the crisis intervention team personnel will be increased by more than 50% this year, and by 2028, the number of regional mental emergency medical centers will be expanded to 32, about three times the current number, along with an increase in emergency beds. Particularly, to prevent treatment interruptions, an outpatient treatment support system will be activated, registering patients with mental health welfare centers from the time of discharge for ongoing management.
President Yoon mentioned, "To fully recover mental health, rehabilitation, employment, and welfare services must be provided as a package beyond treatment," adding, "During my term, we will establish rehabilitation facilities of a certain standard in each region and develop employment models specialized for people with mental disabilities." Starting next year, housing support will be provided to at least 50 households annually, with plans to double this by the end of the term.
He emphasized the importance of improving social perceptions of mental illness. President Yoon said, "While it is important to transform mental health policy around prevention, treatment, and recovery, even more important is improving society's view of mental health," adding, "The understanding that mental illnesses can be treated like general diseases and are not dangerous when treated must take root in our society." He instructed the committee to collaborate with relevant ministries to establish and implement awareness improvement strategies.
Following this, Minister of Health and Welfare Cho Kyu-hong reported on the 'Current Status and Plans for Promoting Mental Health Policy Innovation,' and Chairman Shin Young-chul presented the 'Operation Plan for the Innovation Committee.' Kim Yong, former President of the World Bank and appointed special advisor to the committee, congratulated the launch via video and stressed the need to improve mental health awareness.
Emotional Crisis Students Surge... Dedicated Department Established in Ministry of Education
President Yoon Suk-yeol is watching a video at the '1st Meeting of the Mental Health Policy Innovation Committee' held on the 26th at the National Center for Mental Health, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Committee member Kang Yoon-hyung (psychiatrist) mentioned the recent surge in students experiencing emotional crises, emphasizing the importance of early mental health education for elementary students, a shift in perspective toward crisis students, and systematic support. He also welcomed the establishment of a dedicated department for social-emotional support within the Ministry of Education, stating, "As an expert, I will actively assist."
Committee member Kang Sang-kyung (Professor of Social Welfare at Seoul National University) suggested, "Mental illness leads to increased social costs and decreased productivity," and recommended institutionalizing psychological counseling services, securing related funding, training personnel, and establishing an integrated service system combining medical and welfare services.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Lee Ju-ho expressed concern over the recent rise in student self-harm cases and said, "We have established a department dedicated to students' mental health and are implementing multifaceted policies." He added, "We will build a student-tailored integrated support system including social-emotional education, screening tests for early detection of crisis students, and strengthened counseling linked with local communities."
Committee member Yoon Seok-jun (Dean of Korea University Graduate School of Public Health) stated, "Mental health policy is a complex administration requiring collaboration among multiple ministries and local governments, so strong governance is crucial. In this regard, I welcome the launch of the presidential-level committee," and hoped that related administrative organizations and personnel would be supported for successful policy implementation.
Jung Jeom-sik, Policy Committee Chair of the People Power Party, pledged, "Mental health is an agenda the state must definitely manage," promising, "The National Assembly will actively support necessary legislation and budgets."
Yoon: "Full-scale Financial Investment in Mental Health Policy Starting Next Year"
President Yoon Suk-yeol is making closing remarks at the "1st Meeting of the Mental Health Policy Innovation Committee" held on the 26th at the National Center for Mental Health, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]
In his closing remarks, President Yoon explained, "Under the awareness that 'the mental health of the people must be balanced with the material wealth our country has achieved,' the government has taken an active initiative to promote mental health policy." He added, "Mental illnesses should be managed with the same societal attention as physical illnesses, and not only experts but also the general public must take interest and practice maintaining a healthy mind in daily life."
He further stated, "Last year, we established the vision for mental health policy, and now, starting next year, financial resources will be fully invested," urging relevant ministries to actively identify specific policy tasks and ensure smooth implementation of projects at local policy sites.
About 60 people attended the meeting, including 21 private members of the Mental Health Policy Innovation Committee appointed considering expertise and field experience, such as mental illness patients and their families, psychiatrists, nurses, experts in psychology, counseling, welfare, police officers, and firefighters. From the government, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Lee Ju-ho, Minister of Health and Welfare Cho Kyu-hong, from the National Assembly, People Power Party Policy Committee Chair Jung Jeom-sik, and from the Presidential Office, Senior Secretary for Social Affairs Jang Sang-yoon participated.
According to Presidential Office spokesperson Kim Soo-kyung, before attending the meeting, President Yoon took commemorative photos with the Innovation Committee members and visited the National Mental Health Center's history hall to view exhibits showcasing the center's legacy.
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