Reducing Generation and Regional Gaps in Mind Investment Projects [Rebuilding Mind Investment①]

Half of Participants Are in Their 20s and 30s...
Challenge Remains to Raise Involvement Among Those Aged 60 and Older
Counseling Centers Must Expand Nationwide

Editor's NoteThe government-supported psychological counseling service, the 'National Mind Investment Project,' has been ongoing for eight months. While the initiative is well-intentioned, there are inevitably some regrets and challenges along the way. Asia Economy takes a closer look.

Among the users of the National Mind Investment Project launched by the government last year, nearly half are in their 20s and 30s.

According to data submitted to Nam In-soon, a member of the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, by the Ministry of Health and Welfare on the 10th, the number of applicants for the National Mind Investment Project was 48,386. Among them, those born between 1981 and 1990 accounted for 10,422 (21.5%), and those born between 1991 and 2000 accounted for 13,026 (26.9%), totaling 48.4%.

This may indicate that the MZ generation (Millennials + Generation Z) has a lower 'aversion' to mental counseling compared to middle-aged and older adults. Experts view this as a positive phenomenon. However, conversely, it also suggests that middle-aged and older adults still have a strong aversion to mental counseling and tend to avoid it. In fact, according to the data received by Representative Nam, only 2,084 applicants (4.3%) were born in 1960 or earlier (aged 63 or older). This underscores why the government and society must continue efforts to lower barriers to accessing mental health treatment, including counseling for mental illnesses, and eliminate the 'stigma effect.'

The National Mind Investment Project was established to provide psychological counseling services to citizens experiencing emotional difficulties, to care for mental health, and to prevent worsening chronic mental illnesses, suicide attempts, or self-harm. Eligible applicants include those recognized as needing psychological counseling at mental health welfare centers, university counseling centers, or psychiatric medical institutions, or those who show moderate or higher depressive symptoms in national health screenings.

To participate in the Mind Investment Project, individuals can apply for the service at their administrative welfare center. Once notified as eligible by the city, county, or district office, applicants can choose their preferred service provider regardless of their residence, pay a co-payment based on their income level, and receive psychological counseling services. Those recognized as eligible are provided with vouchers that allow for eight one-on-one face-to-face psychological counseling sessions.

The service types are divided into Level 1 and Level 2 based on the professionalism and capability of the service providers. The price per session is 80,000 KRW for Level 1 and 70,000 KRW for Level 2, with co-payments varying from 0% to 30% depending on income level. However, young adults preparing for independence and extended protection children are exempt from co-payments.

Once the city, county, or district health center decides and notifies the applicant as eligible, a voucher for eight one-on-one face-to-face professional psychological counseling sessions, each lasting at least 50 minutes, is issued within 10 days of application. Eligible applicants can select a convenient service provider regardless of their residence and apply for counseling services. Co-payment and voucher payment are made after receiving counseling. Services must be used within 120 days from the voucher issuance date.

There appears to be a need to improve the concentration of service providers such as psychiatric clinics and psychological counseling centers in the metropolitan area and the three Gangnam districts. Looking at the status by province, out of a total of 1,256 locations, 334 (27.3%) are in Seoul, 258 (20.5%) in Gyeonggi Province, and 34 (2.7%) in Incheon, with the metropolitan area accounting for more than half (50.6%). Within Seoul's districts, out of 334 locations, Gangnam and Seocho districts each have 46 locations (13.3% each), and Songpa district has 25 locations, totaling 34%. In contrast, Gangbuk and Dobong districts each have only 3 locations (0.8% each), and Dongdaemun district has 2 locations (0.5%).

The goal of the Mind Investment Project is to provide professional psychological counseling services to all citizens. It is undesirable for any generation or region to be disproportionately targeted or for resources to be concentrated in one area, as this can cause relative neglect. Calls are growing for more meticulous policy implementation by authorities.

※ If you have difficult-to-talk-about concerns such as depression or know family or acquaintances experiencing such difficulties, you can receive 24-hour expert counseling through the Suicide Prevention Hotline ☎109 or the suicide prevention SNS counseling service "Madeullan."