Tried the 'Maeum Anshim Bus' Visiting General Public...
"Some people wave their hands dismissively, saying, 'My child, my family member passed away, so what difference does counseling make?' I understand that feeling, but those people might actually need help the most. We keep persuading them to have face-to-face counseling, guide them to visit hospitals depending on their symptoms, or connect them to local mental health welfare centers for intensive counseling."
On the 26th, a public official is consulting with a mental health specialist at the 'Mind Relief Bus' set up in front of the Ministry of Health and Welfare building in Sejong City. Photo by the Ministry of Health and Welfare
The government now operates 50 Mind Relief Buses that are quickly deployed to disaster sites to support the psychological recovery of victims or witnesses when major disasters occur. Starting with one bus in 2018, in just six years, local governments across the country, including Jeju, have joined the program. The biggest advantage is that these buses are mobile and provide a separate, isolated space at disaster sites where people can receive psychological counseling.
When not in disaster situations, the buses check the mental state of vulnerable groups such as the elderly or disabled. Upon requests from public institutions or companies, they provide on-site psychological support for employees to overcome trauma caused by emotional labor, relieve job stress, and conduct public awareness campaigns to improve trauma recognition nationwide. This mobile Mind Relief Bus has been operated about 3,200 times just this year, providing mental health services to over 120,000 citizens.
On the 26th, I boarded the Mind Relief Bus that appeared in front of the Ministry of Health and Welfare building in Sejong City. I wanted to measure my own mental health status and receive counseling, as reporters often face time pressure and stress due to their reporting activities and deadlines.
On the 26th, a public official is undergoing an examination wearing a 'Brainwave and Pulse Stress Diagnoser' on their head at the 'Mind Relief Bus' set up in front of the Ministry of Health and Welfare building in Sejong City. Photo by the Ministry of Health and Welfare
The Mind Relief Bus, converted from a 45-seat large bus, was essentially a 'mobile counseling room.' The interior, with all seats removed, was divided into spaces such as a testing room and psychological counseling room, allowing up to two people simultaneously to receive psychological support services from mental health professionals.
First, I wore a 'brainwave and pulse stress diagnostic device' installed inside the vehicle and waited briefly to receive the test results. This process involves analyzing brainwaves and pulse waves through the machine to quantify the stress level felt by the counselor and identify any risks.
Jeon Hye-yang, a counselor (mental health professional) from the Chungcheong Trauma Center, explained, "When we suddenly experience severe stress or are exposed to stress for a long time, the autonomic nervous system experiences hypoarousal or hyperarousal." She diagnosed, "Currently, you are experiencing a normal level of fatigue and stress, and your physical fatigue is at a 'caution' level, indicating the need for proper rest." Both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves were within normal ranges, so the autonomic nervous system's health was relatively good.
However, the brain stress score from the brainwave test was the highest level, a 10, and alpha (α) waves, which are abundant when feeling relaxed, were relatively lacking. Consequently, the overall brain score was 56, well below the 70 points considered the threshold for 'well-managed' brain health. Typically, stress levels rise with interpersonal conflicts, academic or work concerns, or excessive thoughts, and if prolonged, this can lead to anxiety disorders or post-traumatic stress, the counselor explained. However, despite high stress, my concentration and attention were quite high and consistent.
Counselor Jeon pointed out, "You have a good temperament for maintaining focus on work even under stress, but conversely, such people tend to keep worrying or obsessing mentally even during rest, which can push themselves into more stressful situations." She advised, "Sometimes, instead of trying to relax through travel or exercise, it can be beneficial to do nothing, spend time zoning out, or practice emptying your mind through small sensory activities like looking at beautiful pictures or smelling pleasant scents in daily life."
She also said that when feeling very stressed, taking deep sighs and practicing diaphragmatic breathing repeatedly can help. Just as athletes consistently build basic physical strength, most office workers can naturally accept feelings of frustration and tension during work through diaphragmatic breathing.
She strongly recommended that when one feels mentally unhealthy or overwhelmed, experiences burnout from various customer service or emotional labor, or suffers trauma from incidents or accidents, they should visit the Mind Relief Bus operating in their area for counseling.
Counselor Jeon said, "The Mind Relief Bus offers counseling that is close to a single (one-time) session, but through sharing their anxious, depressed, or difficult situations with a counselor and receiving empathy, people can reflect on their condition and experience a normalization of abnormal psychological states. Those who need additional counseling or treatment are connected to other mental health services such as mental health welfare centers to ensure they receive help."
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