Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education Carefully Cares for Students' Mental Health

Early Identification of At-Risk Students... Supporting Growth Through Customized Healing
Operation of Mental Health Promotion Schools and Mental Health Expert School Visit Programs
Operation of 100 Mental Health Promotion Schools Diagnosing, Healing, and Recovering At-Risk Students

Exterior view of the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education Southern New Building.

The Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education (Superintendent Lim Tae-hee) announced on the 8th that it will expand the ‘Mental Health Service’ to provide customized support for students experiencing depression and anxiety in daily life.

The Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education is closely managing students' mental health in collaboration with schools, local communities, and specialized institutions through mental health promotion schools, the Wee Project, school visits by mental health professionals, and the operation of a student mental health expert advisory group.

First, it operates 100 ‘Mental Health Promotion Schools’ that conduct early diagnosis and detection of students in emotional crisis and run customized healing, growth, and recovery programs for students.

The Wee Project’s functions are strengthened and reorganized, operating mainly in 65 pilot schools applying through education support offices, 26 schools in areas with many crisis cases, and 9 schools with high academic stress.

At Mental Health Promotion Schools, the following are implemented to restore the mental health of students in crisis: ▲Mental EASY screening test ▲Counseling and training linked with the mental health advisory group ▲Activation of the school crisis management committee ▲Support for counseling and treatment costs for students in crisis ▲Operation of customized healing, growth, and recovery programs for students ▲Welfare support for students in crisis.

The Mental EASY screening test is an assessment that understands the emotions of elementary, middle, and high school students regarding emotional anxiety, interpersonal relationships, and school adaptation. Based on the test results, counseling is provided to students, parents, and specialized institutions.

Additionally, the ‘Student Mental Health Expert Advisory Group,’ composed of mental health specialists and experts, works to detect students in crisis early and supports counseling and treatment.

Along with this, healing, growth, and recovery programs tailored to school characteristics, such as play therapy, music therapy classes, self-esteem enhancement programs, and empathy programs, are operated to support the mental health of students in crisis.

The Provincial Office of Education operates the ‘School Visit Project by Mental Health Professionals’ in cooperation with five hospitals to support students’ psychological and emotional recovery.

Mental health professionals visit schools to conduct ▲interviews with students in crisis ▲in-depth evaluations ▲consultations and education on mental health issues for teachers and parents. In particular, support is provided for high-risk students who do not receive appropriate linked support due to lack of parental consent, as well as consulting for school staff and counseling for parents.

Currently, the following base centers visit schools to assist students in crisis: ▲Misa Central Mental Health Clinic (Hanam) ▲Ansan Yonsei Hospital (Ansan) ▲Eum Hospital (Yongin) ▲Comfort Mental Health Clinic (Paju) ▲Hanseo Central Hospital (Uijeongbu).

The Provincial Office of Education plans to conduct a policy study on the ‘Establishment and Operation Plan of the Mental Health Service System’ by November to diagnose students’ mental states and expand customized support.

The policy study will cover ▲Current support status for students in the emotional and behavioral characteristic test interest group ▲Analysis of domestic and international digital mental health services for youth and those in Gyeonggi Province ▲Development of a Gyeonggi-type youth digital mental health service support system.

The Provincial Office of Education plans to establish a digital mental health service system that students can easily access by building digital mental health services.

Lee Ji-myung, Director of the Life and Character Education Division at the Provincial Office of Education, said, “We will establish a systematic and sustainable mental health care system reflecting regional characteristics,” and added, “We will do our best to ensure that students in crisis can easily access and receive help through mental health services.”