Gangdong-gu Expands Support for Depression Testing, Psychological Counseling, and Treatment Costs

Support for Mental Health Services from Prevention to Recovery
Relaxation of Treatment Cost Support Criteria Starting in the Second Half of the Year

Gangdong-gu, Seoul (Mayor Lee Soo-hee) announced on the 8th that it will support mental health services that provide depression screening, in-depth psychological counseling, and treatment cost support all at once to prepare for the increasing suicide rate and prevalence of depression after COVID-19.

First, the district will expand the ‘Life Connection Stethoscope Project,’ which conducts depression screening and counseling through visits to local clinics. To this end, the district selected 38 primary medical institutions, 25 more than last year. In the second half of the year, more diverse medical institutions will be recruited, and the list of primary medical institutions participating in the Life Connection Stethoscope Project can be found on the Gangdong-gu Public Health Center website.

Residents who want psychological counseling from professional counselors after depression screening can apply for the ‘National Mental Investment Support Project,’ which has been implemented since this month. Residents who need psychological counseling due to emotional difficulties such as depression and anxiety can apply regardless of age or income criteria, as long as they have a referral issued by a psychiatric medical institution or mental health welfare center. Depending on income criteria, there may be a co-payment, but once registered for the voucher, they can receive psychological counseling for a minimum of 50 minutes per session, up to 8 sessions (maximum 640,000 KRW).

Residents who wish to continue counseling after a total of 8 in-depth sessions can continue through the Gangdong-gu Public Health Center or Gangdong-gu Mental Health Welfare Center. Residents needing help with depression treatment can apply for the district’s specialized project, the ‘Life Respect Knock Project.’ It supports outpatient treatment costs (medication, tests, consultations) up to 300,000 KRW and inpatient treatment costs up to 900,000 KRW for residents who require psychiatric treatment or are at high risk of suicide.

In the second half of the year, the treatment cost support criteria will be relaxed from 150% to 180% of the median income to expand the eligible recipients.

Additionally, through the expansion of ‘Visiting Life Respect Education’ and ‘Visiting Mental Health Mobile Counseling Room,’ the district strengthens residents’ accessibility to mental health by directly visiting places where education or counseling is needed. Institutions, workplaces, and apartment complexes in the district that require depression screening, counseling, or education can apply to the Gangdong-gu Public Health Center.

Jang Young-ja, head of the Health Promotion Division, said, “From depression screening to psychological counseling and treatment, we will devise various measures to ensure the mental health of Gangdong-gu residents,” and added, “We will continue to make every effort to restore the mental health of our residents.”

Applications for the ‘National Mental Investment Support Project’ can be made at the local community service center of the resident’s district, and once registered for the voucher, counseling can be received at any registered psychological counseling center nationwide.